Federal officials announced on Wednesday a plan to implement a 10% reduction in air traffic across 40 “high-volume” U.S. markets, starting Friday. This decision comes in response to staffing shortages exacerbated by the ongoing government shutdown, which has now reached its 36th day, making it the longest in U.S. history.
Bryan Bedford, the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), explained that the reduction in scheduled capacity is a necessary measure to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers amid the staffing crisis. “We have decided that a 10% reduction in scheduled capacity would be appropriate to continue to take the pressure off of our controllers,” Bedford stated.
Alongside U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Bedford detailed the adjustments in a press conference, emphasizing that these changes are essential to maintain safety in air travel. Travelers can expect to learn which specific markets will be impacted when officials announce the details on Thursday.
The shutdown has led to significant disruptions in air travel, with over 10,000 flights experiencing delays last weekend alone, and approximately 11,000 flights affected this week, as reported by tracking service FlightAware. The Transportation Department has been actively working to recruit new air traffic controllers prior to the shutdown, highlighting a current shortage of at least 2,000 controllers.
Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing situation, there is hope that these measures can help restore stability to U.S. air travel in the near future. Federal authorities are committed to addressing the staffing issues and ensuring the safety of passengers as they navigate this turbulent period. This remains a developing story, and further updates are expected.