Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that there will be a 10% decrease in air travel capacity at 40 significant airports across the US beginning Friday morning, should the government shutdown persist.
The choice was made due to air traffic controllers reporting fatigue issues, as stated by the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during a briefing with Duffy on Wednesday.
“It’s unusual, just like the shutdown is unusual, and the fact that our controllers haven’t received payment for a month is also unusual,” remarked FAA administrator Bryan Bedford.
During the ongoing shutdown, which is now the longest in US history, controllers have been compelled to continue working without compensation, leading some to report sick or seek additional employment.
The reductions in flights will occur progressively, initiating with 4% of domestic flights on Friday, increasing to 5% on Saturday and 6% on Sunday, and reaching the full 10% by next week, according to Reuters, citing four unnamed sources.
Officials indicated that the list of impacted airports, all of which are high-traffic hubs, will be disclosed on Thursday.
The cancellations may impact between 3,500 and 4,000 flights each day.
“We’re observing pressures building in a manner that could hinder our ability to communicate to the public that we maintain the safest airline system globally if left unchecked,” Bedford stated.
Duffy affirmed that air travel remains safe, and the flight cancellations are being implemented to ensure safety and productivity.
If the shutdown continues, adding more strain to the system, Bedford mentioned that further restrictive actions might be necessary.
In an announcement, American Airlines, the second-largest airline in North America, stated it is waiting for more details from the FAA to identify which flights will be canceled but expects that “the majority of our customers’ travel will remain unaffected.”
A representative from Southwest Airlines, the fourth largest airline, commented that the company is still assessing the impact of the flight restrictions on its operations and will inform customers as soon as feasible.
“We continue to urge Congress to swiftly resolve its deadlock and restore the National Airspace System to its complete capacity,” the representative added.
Delta Airlines chose not to comment. The BBC has also reached out to other significant US airlines.
After government funding ceased on 1 October, most federal employees were dismissed and informed they would be compensated once the government reopened. However, essential workers, such as controllers, were required to continue their duties without pay.
Shortly after the shutdown commenced, the effects started to be felt at airports. Some had to suspend flights for hours after air traffic controllers called in sick, while others depended on controllers from different airports.
Nick Daniels, the president of the union representing over 20,000 aviation workers, described the situation candidly on Wednesday.
“Air traffic controllers are messaging, ‘I can’t even afford gas for my car to get to work,'” he informed CNN.
“Our daily operations rely on predictability,” he remarked. “At this moment, there is no predictability.”
Duffy warned earlier this week that flight cancellations might be imminent, as half of the country’s 30 major airports are dealing with staffing shortages.
He had previously indicated the risks associated with air traffic controllers taking on additional jobs during the shutdown and threatened to terminate controllers who do not report for duty.
“They must choose, do I report for duty without a paycheck and no food on the table? Or do I drive for Uber or work at a restaurant?” Duffy mentioned on ABC on Sunday.
