Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned there will be a 10% reduction in air travel capacity at 40 major airports in the US starting Friday morning, if the government shutdown continues.
The decision was made because air traffic controllers have been reporting issues with fatigue, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said at a briefing with Duffy on Wednesday.
It is unusual, just as the shutdown is unusual, just as the fact that our controllers haven't been paid for a month is unusual, said FAA chief Bryan Bedford.
During the shutdown, now the longest in US history, controllers have had to keep working without pay, prompting some to call out sick or take side jobs.
The flight reductions will be gradual, starting at 4% of domestic flights on Friday, then rising to 5% on Saturday and 6% on Sunday, before hitting the full 10% next week, Reuters reported after the announcement, citing four unnamed sources.
The names of the affected airports - all high-traffic locations - will be released on Thursday, the officials said.
The cancellations could affect between 3,500 and 4,000 flights per day.
We are seeing pressures build in a way that we don't feel - if we allow it to go unchecked - will allow us to continue to tell the public that we operate the safest airline system in the world, Bedford said.
Duffy emphasized that air travel remains safe, indicating that the flight cancellations are necessary to maintain safety and efficiency.
If the shutdown continues and adds more pressure to the system, additional restrictive measures may be required, Bedford added.
A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines stated that the airline is evaluating how the flight restrictions might impact its services and will communicate updates to customers as information becomes available.
Delta Airlines declined to comment, while BBC has reached out to other major US airlines.
Once government funds ran out on 1 October, most federal workers were sent home and told they would be paid once the government reopened. Nevertheless, essential workers like controllers continued their duties without pay.
Almost immediately after the shutdown began, airports felt the impact. Some grounded flights due to staff shortages, relying on controllers from other airports.
Nick Daniels, president of the labor union representing over 20,000 aviation workers, highlighted the dire circumstances, recounting controllers expressing their inability to afford gas to commute to work.
Duffy previously warned that flight cancellations may be on the horizon as half of the country’s 30 major airports face staffing shortages.
He stressed the risk posed by controllers seeking additional employment during the shutdown, previously threatening to terminate those who do not report to work.
They have to make a decision: do I go to work and not get a paycheck and not put food on the table? Or do I drive for Uber or DoorDash or wait tables? Duffy commented.
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