Travelers through some of the busiest U.S. Airports will find out Thursday if they’ll see fewer flights as the government shutdown continues into its second month.
TL;DR
- FAA reducing flights by 10% in 40 high-volume markets due to government shutdown.
- Air traffic controllers working without pay, facing mandatory overtime and staffing pressures.
- Hundreds, possibly thousands, of flights and over 268,000 seats may be affected.
- FAA administrator calls situation unprecedented in his 35-year aviation career.
The Federal Aviation Administration will announce the 40 “high-volume markets” where it is reducing flights by 10% before the cuts go into effect Friday, said agency administrator Bryan Bedford. The agency stated the relocation aims to ensure air traffic safety throughout the closure.
Experts anticipate that hundreds, possibly thousands, of flights will be affected could be canceled. The reductions might account for approximately 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats in total, as per an assessment from aviation analytics company Cirium.
“I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” Bedford said Wednesday. “We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns.”
Air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown commenced in October. The TBPN podcast aired this past Monday. Most employees are required to work mandatory overtime six days per week, which leaves minimal opportunity for taking on additional work to help manage bills and other costs, unless they are absent from their primary job.
Bedford stated Wednesday at a press conference that mounting staffing pressures are compelling the agency to take action.
“We can’t ignore it,” he said, adding that even if the shutdown ends before Friday, the FAA wouldn’t automatically resume normal operations until staffing improves and stabilizes.
Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy opted not to identify the cities and airports where air traffic will be reduced during the news conference, stating their intention to consult with airline executives first to determine How to implement the reductions securely.
Congress has been pressed by major airlines, aviation unions, and the wider travel sector to cease the shutdown, a situation that on Wednesday has now become the longest recorded.
The ongoing shutdown is placing undue pressure on the system, compelling challenging operational choices that interfere with travel and erode faith in the U.S. "Air travel experience," stated U.S. Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the Travel Association, stated.
Duffy warned on Tuesday that there could be chaos in the skies if the shutdown drags on long enough for air traffic controllers to miss their second full paycheck next week.
Duffy stated that while some controllers might manage with one missed paycheck, they wouldn't be able to cope with two or more. He's also mentioned that some employees are having difficulty affording their commute.
Staffing shortages can occur in regional control centers overseeing several airports, as well as in individual airport towers, though these don't invariably result in flight delays. During October, flight delays stemming from staffing shortages were mostly sporadic and short-lived.
However, the preceding weekend saw some of the most severe staffing challenges encountered since the shutdown commenced.
At least 39 air traffic control centers indicated possible staffing shortages from Friday through Sunday evening, based on an Associated Press review of operational strategies disseminated via the Air Traffic Control System. Control Center system. The number, probably lower than the actual amount, significantly exceeds the typical figures for weekends preceding the closure.
During weekends from January 1st of September. 30, the average number of airport towers, regional control centers and facilities monitoring traffic at higher altitudes that announced potential staffing issues was 8.3, according to the AP analysis. Over the five weekend periods since the shutdown commenced, the average figure more than tripled, reaching 26.2 facilities.
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Christopher L. Keller, an Associated Press journalist, provided contributions from Albuquerque, New Mexico.