Government shutdown will slow down air traffic at major US airports

Air traffic in the United States will be reduced by 4% at 40 airports starting Friday due to a system overload caused by a surge in air traffic controller absences following the 36-day federal government shutdown. The flight reductions could steadily rise to reach 10% by November 14, according to government and air traffic officials.

The flight restrictions will affect some of the country’s busiest airports, including those in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington DC, according to a list shared by the Trump administration a few hours before the cuts were due to take effect. For now, international flights are exempt from the reductions.

The limitations on air traffic are increasing pressure on Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill to negotiate an end to the shutdown.

Many travelers on Thursday still did not know whether their flights would be canceled the next day, following the announcement of the cuts on Wednesday by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.

The air traffic reduction will affect the 30 airports with the highest traffic volume in major metropolitan areas, what the FAA calls the “Core 30 list.” Additionally, a few midsize airports that deal mostly with commercial traffic, as well as some airfields that cater to private jets, will be affected.

The cuts in air traffic will force the country’s major airlines — American Airlines, Delta, Southwest and United Airlines — to reduce their total seat capacity by 6%, according to Bloomberg.

“Per FAA requirement, we have reduced flight schedules by four percent at 40 airports Friday through Monday, amounting to about 220 flights canceled each day. Even with these cancellations, we plan to operate around 6,000 daily flights,” said American Airlines in a statement.

The already stressed aviation sector is now on the brink of collapse due to the government shutdown, which has left thousands of federal aviation workers without pay but forced to show up for work. There has been an uptick in absences as some employees are calling in sick and struggling to make ends meet, Duffy said last week. FAA employees missed one paycheck on October 28, and the second one is due on November 11.

The Secretary of Transportation explained that more than 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay since October 1, when the shutdown began. Many controllers and other federal aviation workers have since started taking sick leave. The shutdown is putting even more strain on an already stressed air traffic control system, with thousands of controller positions vacant and an overwhelming workload.

Pressure to negotiate an end to the government shutdown

Air traffic restrictions are putting pressure on Capitol Hill to end the budget impasse, which is already the longest in history. The government shutdown has forced dozens of federal agencies to close or reduce their operations to a minimum due to a lack of resources and the absence of an agreement between Republicans and Democrats. Negotiations between the two parties continue with no sign of an imminent agreement, despite the threat of thousands of flight cancellations this Friday.

Although some centrist Democrats are trying to reach an agreement to end the administrative gridlock, many senators, encouraged by their electoral victory in New York, Virginia, and New Jersey last Tuesday, are determined to try to achieve a victory against the Republicans on health care, where the latter intend to cut spending.

Sources familiar with the negotiations believe an agreement will not be reached for another two weeks, just before Thanksgiving, when thousands of people will travel to be with their families.

The reduction in air traffic during the government shutdown is reminiscent of January 2019, when, after 35 days of government closure, the Senate decided to unblock the situation following the FAA’s decision to limit flights at several airports.

The shutdown is also affecting the Trump administration. The president has blamed the budget impasse for the electoral setback suffered last Tuesday. And he has urged Republicans to eliminate the filibuster, the rule that allows bills to be delayed in the Senate until a 60-vote supermajority is reached.

“The Democrats will terminate the Filibuster in THE FIRST HOUR, if and when they assume “control” or power. Republicans have what the Democrats want — We should do it, NOW, and have the greatest three years in History!,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

But Republicans are hesitant to repeal that rule because they fear the consequences if Democrats gain a majority in the Senate, allowing them to pass any legislation without negotiation. Recent polls give the Democratic Party a slight advantage in the midterm elections next year, which could potentially curtail Trump’s power.

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