U.S. Cuts Air Traffic by 10% at 40 Airports Due to Shutdown

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a significant reduction in air traffic, implementing a 10% cut at 40 major airports starting Friday, October 6, 2023. This decision comes as the federal government shutdown stretches into its 36th day, impacting thousands of aviation workers and leading to extensive flight disruptions.

The ongoing shutdown has forced approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers to work without pay. As a result, staff shortages have intensified, causing delays and longer lines at airport security checkpoints. “We had a gut check of what is our job,” Duffy explained during a press conference, detailing the rationale behind the drastic measure.

The reduction in scheduled flights aims to alleviate the burden on air traffic controllers, who have been struggling to manage increasing workloads. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has indicated that it may impose additional flight restrictions if the situation worsens. Earlier this week, Duffy warned that if the shutdown persists for another week, it could lead to “mass chaos,” potentially resulting in the closure of parts of the national airspace.

Airlines have expressed growing concerns regarding aviation safety amid the shutdown. Major carriers, including United Airlines and American Airlines, reported a decline of about 1% in their stock prices during extended trading hours. An industry group estimated that over 3.2 million passengers have experienced delays or cancellations due to the rising absenteeism among air traffic controllers, which has increased significantly since the shutdown began on October 1, 2023.

On Wednesday alone, more than 2,100 flights were delayed. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford noted that between 20% and 40% of controllers at the agency’s 30 largest airports were not reporting for duty. While airlines have maintained that the shutdown has not yet severely impacted their operations, they have cautioned that prolonged disruption could lead to a drop in bookings.

The federal government remains largely inactive as political leaders remain at an impasse over funding legislation. Democrats have stated they will not support a plan that does not extend health insurance subsidies, while Republicans have outright rejected such proposals. The stalemate continues to affect not only air travel but also a broad range of other services dependent on government operations.

As the situation evolves, the aviation industry and its passengers remain on high alert, hoping for a resolution to the shutdown that has significantly disrupted air travel across the United States.