The FAA is beginning to scale back airline capacity today as the ongoing U.S. government shutdown continues to strain air traffic control operations. The agency announced Wednesday it will cut air traffic by 10 percent in 40 high-volume markets to ensure safety during the government shutdown.
The list of affected airports encompasses the nation’s largest air travel markets.
In New York, all three major airports—John F. Kennedy International (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark Liberty International (EWR)—will see reduced flight operations. The Washington, D.C. area’s Dulles (IAD), Reagan National (DCA) and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) airports are also impacted, as are major hubs in Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami.
Other cities on the list include Orlando, Boston, Denver, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Seattle and Phoenix. This reduction could affect thousands of flights nationwide, as the FAA manages over 44,000 daily flights.
Since Oct. 1, air traffic controllers have worked without pay during the shutdown. Staff shortages from callouts have caused flight delays across multiple U.S. airports. Citing growing staffing pressures, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency would not wait for a crisis to act
“We can’t ignore it,” he told the Associated Press.
Bedford and Transportation Secretary Duffy will meet with airline executives Wednesday to plan the safe flight reduction implementation. They’ll release the affected markets list Thursday, declining to name them beforehand.
The FAA restricts flights during weather issues or staff shortages when other facilities can’t compensate, but last weekend’s controller shortage was among the worst of the shutdown, which officially became the longest in U.S. history on Nov. 5.
Between last Friday and Sunday evening, at least 39 air traffic control facilities reported potential staffing limitations, according to AP’s analysis of command center operations plans. This count, likely understated, significantly exceeds pre-shutdown weekend averages.
Before the October shutdown, for example, weekend staffing concerns were relatively modest—just 8.3 facilities typically reported potential issues between January and September. Fast-forward to post-shutdown, and there is a dramatic surge to 26.2 facilities facing staffing challenges across five weekend periods, more than triple the previous average.
While major airlines, aviation unions and the wider travel industry have urged Congress to end the shutdown, most controllers have continued to work mandatory overtime six days a week during the shutdown, leaving little time for a side job to help cover bills, mortgage payments and other expenses—unless they call out.
Duffy’s Wednesday announcement followed his prior warning that prolonged shutdown could cause airspace chaos next week if controllers miss Tuesday’s paychecks, their second.
Duffy said the FAA wanted to take a proactive approach instead of reacting after a disaster, pointing to the deadly mid-air collision in January between a commercial jet and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport—a clear case of miscommunication between the helicopter pilot and controllers.
“We learned from that. And so now we look at data, and before it would become an issue, we try to assess the pressure and try to make moves before there could be adverse consequences,” Duffy said. “And that’s what’s happening here today.”
The FAA also warned that it could impose additional flight restrictions after Friday if further air traffic issues arise.
Late Wednesday, U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman made this statement: “Today’s announcement from Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford reinforces that safety is the number one priority in our nation’s air travel system. The decision to reduce scheduled flight capacity, while necessary to keep our skies safe, will inevitably affect the travel experience, leading to fewer flights, longer delays and more disruptions for travelers.
“All government shutdowns are irresponsible and this decision underscores the urgent need to reopen the government. The shutdown is putting unnecessary strain on the system, forcing difficult operational decisions that disrupt travel and damage confidence in the U.S. air travel experience. The fault for this situation rests squarely at the feet of Congress.”
