Flight reductions at 40 major U.S. airports will remain at 6% instead of rising to 10% as more air traffic controllers return to work, as officials announced on Wednesday amidst the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill to end the shutdown.
Initially, flight cuts were introduced as more controllers reported sick due to exhaustion and the need for secondary employment, leaving control towers understaffed. The FAA reported that safety concerns led to these reductions, following a significant number of flight cancellations since the restrictions took effect.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated that the decision was based on data and assessments of the air traffic system's ability to operate safely. With 10,100 flights canceled since Friday, airlines like Delta express optimism about restoring operations as air traffic gradually stabilizes.
The FAA’s concerns include near misses between planes and growing runway incursions. Airlines for America urged Congress to act quickly to prevent chaos ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday travel season. The aviation system remains in a delicate state as it faces the challenges of rebuilding schedules disrupted by flight cuts, unexpected controller shortages, and adverse weather conditions.
