Travelers passing through some of the busiest airports in the US can expect to learn on Thursday. they will see fewer flights as the government shutdown drags into its second month.
The Federal Aviation Administration will announce “high-volume markets” in which it will cut flights by 10% before the cuts take effect Friday, agency administrator Brian Bedford said. According to the agency, this step is intended to ensure the safety of airspace during quarantine.
Experts predict that hundreds, if not thousands of flights could be cancelled.
“I don't know in my 35-year history in the aviation market when we've had a situation where we've taken action like this,” Bedford said Wednesday. “We are in new territory in terms of the government shutdown.”
Air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown began on October 1. Most work overtime six days a week, leaving little time for part-time work to help cover bills and other expenses unless they call.
Growing staffing pressures are forcing the agency to act, Bedford said at a news conference Wednesday.
“We cannot ignore this,” he said, adding that even if the shutdown ends before Friday, the FAA will not automatically resume normal operations until staffing levels improve and stabilize.
Bedford and Transport Minister Sean Duffy declined during a news conference to name the cities and airports where they would slow air traffic, saying they wanted to first meet with airline executives to figure out how to safely implement the cuts.
Major airlines, aviation unions and the broader travel industry are calling on Congress to end the shutdown. on Wednesday became the longest in history.
The closure puts unnecessary strain on the system and “forces difficult operational decisions that disrupt travel and undermine confidence in U.S. air travel,” U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Jeff Freeman said in a statement.
Yamat writes for the Associated Press
