In a significant development impacting air travel, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has disclosed plans to reduce flight volumes by 10 percent across 40 major airports. This decision comes as a response to the ongoing government shutdown, which has already caused disruptions within the aviation sector. The FAA’s move is expected to potentially affect 3,000 to 4,500 flights daily, particularly in high-volume markets such as Atlanta, Dallas, New York City, and Los Angeles.
According to CBS, the FAA has not yet specified which airports will face capacity reductions. FAA Administrator Bryan Terfry expressed the unprecedented nature of these measures, stating, ‘I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation industry where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of steps.’
The shutdown, now the longest in US history, has led to numerous daily delays and security concerns at airports. Essential aviation personnel, including air traffic controllers and TSA agents, have been working without pay amidst the shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has criticized Democrats, with accusations of leveraging control over airspace in the political stalemate. Duffy even mentioned the possibility of ‘shutting the whole airspace down’ if the shutdown persists.
Source: The Verge