FAA to reduce flights by 10 percent as US government shutdown drags on

Beginning Friday morning, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a 10% reduction in air traffic across 40 “high-volume” markets to ensure safety while the government is in a shutdown.

The agency made the announcement on Wednesday as it struggles with staffing issues brought on by air traffic controllers’ unpaid work and delays across the country.

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The agency, according to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, is not going to wait until a problem arises because the shutdown is putting pressure on staff and “we can’t ignore it.”

Later on Wednesday, Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will discuss how to safely implement the reduction. They will meet with airline leaders.

Widespread delays

13, 000 air traffic controllers and 50, 000 TSA officers were forced to work unpaid because of the shutdown, which is currently in its 36th day. This has resulted in longer lines at airport security screening, increased staff shortages, and widespread flight delays.

The action aims to relieve air traffic controllers of pressure. If additional air traffic issues arise after Friday, the FAA has also warned that it may impose more restrictions on flights.

Duffy had earlier warned on Tuesday that if the government shutdown lasted for another week, it could cause “mass chaos” and force him to shut down some of the country’s airspace, a drastic move that could end American aviation.

Airlines have repeatedly called for the shutdown to end, citing concerns about aviation safety.

In extended trading, the shares of major airlines, including United Airlines and American Airlines, dropped by about 1%.

Since the shutdown started on October 1st, an industry group estimated that more than 3.2 million passengers have experienced flight delays or cancellations as a result of increasing air traffic controller absences. Legislators have been concerned about the impact on operations from airlines.

Airlines claim that the government shutdown hasn’t had a significant impact on their business, but they’ve warned that if it drags on, bookings may decrease. On Wednesday, there were more than 2,100 delays.

According to FAA’s Bedford, 20 to 40% of controllers at the agency’s 30 largest airports were late arriving for work on Tuesday.