Shutdown Strains the US Skies
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that if the ongoing federal government shutdown continues, airlines may be instructed to reduce flight operations by up to 20 percent. According to Reuters, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already ordered a 4 percent reduction in flights at 40 major airports as of Friday, a figure that could reach 10 percent by November 14.
On Friday, a shortage of air traffic controllers led to hundreds of delayed flights at major airports, including Atlanta, San Francisco, Houston, and Washington. By evening, more than 5,000 flights had been delayed, according to data from FlightAware.
During what has now become a record 38-day shutdown, approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security inspectors have been working without pay, resulting in increased absenteeism.
Duffy stated that to ensure aviation safety, authorities may have to reduce flights by as much as 20 percent if necessary. He also noted that international routes would not be included in the immediate reduction plan.
DBTECH/BMT/OR
