The U.S. government has ordered airlines to slash flights by 10% at 40 major airports nationwide as the record 36-day government shutdown triggers growing safety and staffing concerns across the aviation system.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the emergency measure on Wednesday, citing a confidential safety assessment that warned of rising fatigue and stress among air traffic controllers, many of whom have been working without pay.
The shutdown has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to work unpaid, straining an already understaffed system.
“The decision wasn’t easy, but safety must come first,” Duffy told reporters. “Our job is to make the hard calls to ensure America’s airspace remains safe.”
He said the cuts could be reversed immediately if Democrats agree to reopen the government, which remains closed amid a standoff with President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers over healthcare subsidies.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the reduction will begin with a 4% cut on Thursday, rising gradually to 10% by next week.
The cuts will focus on domestic routes and are expected to affect the 30 busiest airports, including New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Dallas, potentially grounding up to 1,800 flights and eliminating more than 268,000 seats, data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the move aims to ease the workload of controllers amid chronic shortages. The FAA is reportedly 3,500 controllers short of its target staffing levels, with many working six-day weeks and mandatory overtime.
“We can’t ignore the pressures in these markets,” Bedford said. “Taking action now ensures the system remains safe today and tomorrow.”
Airlines have scrambled to adjust schedules. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said long-haul international and hub-to-hub operations will remain intact, with cuts concentrated on regional and non-hub routes.
He also announced a flexible refund policy, allowing passengers to cancel trips even if their flights aren’t directly affected. American Airlines issued a similar statement, while Southwest Airlines, the nation’s largest domestic carrier, said it was assessing how the cuts will impact its operations.
The shutdown, which began October 1, has shuttered much of the federal government, furloughed 750,000 employees, halted food assistance for low-income families, and caused tens of thousands of flight delays.
Airlines estimate that at least 3.2 million passengers have already been affected by air traffic control shortages, and industry officials warn that the situation could worsen if the impasse continues.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, representing 55,000 crew members, condemned the political standoff as “a cruel attack on all Americans.”
Union President Sara Nelson said, “The false narrative that this shutdown forces a choice between paying federal workers and protecting healthcare is outrageous. Both crises were created by those who have the power to fix them.”
Airlines have warned that continued disruptions could dampen passenger demand heading into the busy holiday travel season. Shares of United and American fell about 1% in extended trading Wednesday.
As Duffy cautioned earlier this week, if the shutdown drags on further, it could lead to “mass chaos”, and potentially the closure of portions of U.S. airspace for the first time in modern history.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
