DOT to Reduce Traffic by 10% at 40 Airports Amid Shutdown Friday
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to implement significant flight reductions at numerous major airports if a shutdown agreement is not reached soon. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy disclosed this development during a news conference on Wednesday.
Flight Reductions Amid Potential Shutdown
Starting Friday, the FAA plans to cut 10% of air traffic at 40 high-traffic airports across the country. However, the specific airports affected have yet to be disclosed. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized the impact on these busy markets, stating that airlines would need to cooperate in adjusting their schedules.
Staffing Shortages and Delays
This service reduction is a response to ongoing air traffic control staffing shortages resulting from the current shutdown. While air traffic controllers are essential employees who must work, they have not been receiving pay, prompting some to call in sick either to pursue other jobs or as a form of protest. Duffy acknowledged the difficulties controllers face, saying, “We have seen staffing pressures throughout our airspace.”
- More than 400 staffing shortages have been reported at FAA facilities since the beginning of the shutdown.
- This figure represents over four times the staffing issues recorded during the same period last year.
Future Measures and Safety Precautions
Bedford indicated that the new flight reduction measures would extend beyond commercial airspace. They will also include restrictions on space launches and limit small aircraft operations in specific areas. As outlined by Duffy, the FAA’s actions aim to maintain safety in American airspace.
This is a developing situation, and further details will be communicated as they become available. Travelers could expect more delays and cancellations in the upcoming days as this issue unfolds.
