U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a warning on Friday that the government might mandate airlines to reduce flights by up to 20 percent if the ongoing government shutdown persisted. In response to the Federal Aviation Administration’s directives, airlines slashed four percent of domestic flights at 40 major airports, aiming to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers, with plans to increase the cuts to 10 percent by November 14. Secretary Duffy mentioned the possibility of further cuts up to 20 percent based on airspace observations.
The government shutdown, lasting a record 38 days, has resulted in 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners working without pay, leading to a rise in absenteeism. Amid the shutdown, FAA administrator Bryan Bedford noted that 20 to 40 percent of controllers were regularly absent. The Trump administration has been urging Democrats to agree to a Republican funding proposal to reopen the government.
Democrats blame Republicans for the shutdown, attributing it to the lack of negotiation over extending health insurance subsidies. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, highlighted the impact of the shutdown on air travel by posting a photo of a board displaying cancelled flights at an airport. Currently, the flight reductions, affecting around 700 flights from major carriers like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, are scheduled to increase to six percent by the following week.
Air traffic controller absences led to flight delays at 10 airports, including Atlanta, San Francisco, and Houston. Despite American Airlines CEO Robert Isom downplaying the immediate disruption for customers from the initial cuts, he expressed concerns about potential future challenges if the cuts escalate. United Airlines reported rebooking half of the affected passengers within four hours of their original departure time.
Secretary Duffy emphasized that the flight reductions aim to uphold safety standards amidst tired and absent air traffic controllers. The FAA, which published the list of impacted airports shortly before the cuts took effect, also mentioned the possibility of rejecting specific cuts if they disproportionately affect certain communities. Additionally, the FAA warned about potential restrictions on space launches and the potential need to reduce general aviation flights at high-traffic airports in case of staffing issues.