One day after Senate Democrats blocked a plan to reopen the federal government, federal officials announced consequences for air travelers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is limiting flights at 40 major airports due to the need for reduced pressure on air traffic controllers who have gone a month without pay.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, along with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, confirmed the restrictions, citing significant delays—more than 10,000 flights across the country—over the weekend. By midweek, the delays had risen to about 11,000, as reported by FlightAware. “We have decided that a 10 percent reduction in scheduled capacity would be appropriate to continue to take the pressure off our controllers,” Bedford said. The reduction is set to be phased in, starting with 4 percent cutbacks on Friday and escalating to 10 percent next week.
Bedford recognized the unusual nature of the situation. “I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” he stated. He emphasized the need for proactive action to prevent potential safety issues. “We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating.”
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby discussed the impact of the cuts. He noted that regional routes and non-hub flights would feel the brunt of the reductions, with refunds available for customers who choose to cancel their flights. “United’s long-haul international flying and our hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted by this schedule reduction direction from the FAA,” he explained, stating that the integrity of their network must be maintained to provide options for affected travelers.
The list of impacted airports includes major hubs such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Denver International, and New York’s JFK, among others. Travelers are encouraged to check with their airlines for the most current flight information.
With the measures being taken, the FAA has spotlighted the ongoing operational challenges stemming from the government shutdown. This situation reflects a growing tension between maintaining safety and ensuring air travel remains viable during periods of governmental instability.
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