Air TransportUS to reduce flight capacity by up to 10% at 40 airports amid government shutdown
The US Department of Transportation (DoT) announced that the government will reduce flight capacity by up to 10% at 40 major airports starting Friday if the federal shutdown continues.
The phased reductions will begin with a 4% cut in domestic flights on Friday, rising to 5% on Saturday and 6% on Sunday, before reaching 10% next week.
The FAA has reported that controllers are working without pay due to the ongoing budget impasse in Congress, and increasing fatigue among air traffic controllers has driven the decision to limit operations.
The agency remains about 3,500 controllers below its desired staffing levels. The current government shutdown, which began on October 1, is now the longest in US history.
It has forced approximately 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and 13,000 air traffic controllers to work without pay.
Operational disruptions have already materialized, with over 2,100 flights delayed on the Wednesday prior to the announcement. Airlines including American Airlines and Southwest are reviewing how the restrictions may affect their schedules and services.
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