Airlines express confidence in returning to regular service shortly after the government rescinds its directive to reduce certain flights at 40 busy airports, though the timeline for this remains uncertain, despite the federal shutdown is over.
TL;DR
- FAA requires airlines to reduce flights by no more than 6% due to improved air traffic controller staffing.
- Airlines are confident in returning to regular service shortly after the FAA rescinds its flight reduction directive.
- Controller staffing issues, caused by the government shutdown, led to flight reductions for safety concerns.
- Airlines for America anticipates a record 31 million passengers during the upcoming Thanksgiving travel period.
The Federal Aviation Administration did announce Wednesday night that airlines won’t have to cut more than 6% of flights at those airports because air traffic controller staffing has improved significantly in the last few days. Originally the order that took effect last Friday called for those flight cuts to increase to 8% Thursday and top out at 10% on Friday.
Several air traffic controllers were absent from their duties due to not receiving pay during the shutdown. This increase in understaffing at airport towers and regional control centers led to the order for flight reductions, driven by safety concerns. The existing deficit of thousands of controllers is so severe that even a few absences in certain areas created issues.
The FAA and the Transportation Department provided no new information Thursday morning regarding the timeline for rescinding the order. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has stated that the decision will hinge on safety data that FAA experts are meticulously monitoring.
Airlines assert their readiness and anticipate a return to regular service within three to four days of the order's cancellation. However, some analysts propose that issues could persist beyond that timeframe, potentially impacting holiday travel, making it challenging to forecast the speed of airline recovery compared to disruptions caused by severe snowstorms that displace aircraft and personnel.
Airlines concentrated their reductions on less-trafficked regional flight paths to lessen disruptions at their primary hubs. By Thursday morning's end, approximately 1,000 flights nationwide had been called off.
“We are eager to resume normal operations over the next few days once the FAA gives clearance. We look forward to welcoming 31 million passengers—a new record—to our flights during the upcoming Thanksgiving travel period, beginning next Friday,” the Airlines for America trade group said Thursday.
Duffy stated that controllers and other FAA personnel ought to get 70% of their owed wages within 24-48 hours following the shutdown's conclusion, with the remaining portion distributed across subsequent pay periods. The financial strain on controllers prompted some to pursue supplementary employment to manage their expenses and take time off work due to the stress they were experiencing.
On Saturday, staff shortages reached a high point with 81 FAA facilities reporting insufficient personnel, compelling airlines to reduce more flights. By Thursday morning, the FAA reported no staffing advisories at airports or radar stations nationwide.
In a letter to staff on Thursday, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom and Chief Operating Officer David Seymour indicated that improvements are already evident due to stabilized controller staffing over the past day or so. Despite this, further flight reductions will be necessary until the FAA rescinds its order, though travelers should anticipate fewer disruptions on their travel days.
The two executives said they believe American Airlines’ planning and efforts to minimize disruptions will help the carrier bounce back fast and “deliver a strong Thanksgiving operation,” noting that millions of travelers “deserve the certainty.”