US to cut flying by 10% at key airports as government shutdown persists: Transportation Secretary

The US said it will cut flight capacity by 10% at 40 high-volume markets across the country to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers and the aviation system during what is now the longest government shutdown in history.

The changes will take effect on Friday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said during a press briefing alongside the leader of the Federal Aviation Administration, Bryan Bedford. The agency will release the markets impacted on Thursday.

“The data will dictate what we do,” Duffy said. “If the data goes in the wrong direction, could you see additional restrictions? Yes.”

The announced plans, if they impact the top 40 airports in the US, could cut as many as 1,800 flights, data analytics company Cirium said.

Duffy said the cuts were necessary to maintain air travel safety. Cuts to international flights hadn’t been discussed. Bedford added that he sees the FAA restricting space launches as well.

The FAA has been forced to slow traffic at many airports in recent days due to rising controller staffing shortages since the government shutdown began on Oct. 1. Air traffic controllers continue to work without pay, adding strain to an already stressful job.

President Donald Trump also weighed in on the staffing-related delays and cancellations. “They’re stranding thousands of travellers at the airports,” he said at the America Business Forum in Miami. “All because they want to return to the failed Biden policies.”

Trump’s comments and an earlier round table with airline executives were the latest rhetoric intended to ratchet up pressure on Democrats to forge a deal to end the shutdown.

Fatigue Builds

Controller absences have increased as the shutdown drags on. Duffy has said that normally staffing shortages cause about 5% of flight delays, but that number has been routinely higher over the last month, at times surpassing 50%.

“We are starting to see some evidence that fatigue is building in the system,” Bedford said during Wednesday’s press conference, pointing to voluntary safety disclosure reports the FAA receives from pilots. He said it was important for the agency to take action to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Bedford said US officials would be meeting with airlines on Wednesday evening to discuss implementing the reduction plan.

Millions of passengers have grappled with flight cancellations and delays related to staffing since the shutdown started, Airlines for America, a trade group, said.

Reuters first reported that the government was considering cutting flights at airports.

Read Also: Gold steadies as traders assess outlook for US interest rates