The United States government says it will reduce air traffic by 10 per cent at 40 major airports beginning Friday if the federal shutdown persists — a decision made amid growing concerns over fatigue among unpaid air-traffic controllers.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Bryan Bedford told reporters at a joint briefing with Sean Duffy, the US Transportation Secretary, that the plan will roll out gradually: starting at a 4 % cut on Friday, then 5 % on Saturday, 6 % on Sunday, and reaching the full 10 % by next week.
The reductions target the country’s busiest “high-volume” markets — including hubs in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas and Washington DC — though officials have not yet named all 40 airports.
The impetus for the move lies in the air-traffic control workforce: thousands are working without pay because of the ongoing shutdown that began on 1 October. Some have reportedly called in sick, sought secondary employment or are under extreme stress — all of which raise concerns about maintaining the “world’s safest airline system,” Bedford said.
Duffy stressed that air travel remains safe, but described the measure as a pre-emptive step to prevent degradation of service and safety. “Our job is to make sure we make hard decisions to keep the airspace safe,” he said.
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Major airlines are beginning to adjust schedules accordingly. One carrier said the majority of its routes will remain unaffected, focusing reductions on domestic network and regional flights, not long-haul international ones.
If the shutdown continues, Bedford warned, the FAA may impose further limits. For now, travellers are being advised to expect possible cancellations or rescheduling — especially if they are travelling in or through the so-called 40 affected airport markets.