Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that starting Friday, Nov. 7, the government will reduce flights by 10% at 40 major US airports due to the strain caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown and pressure on unpaid air traffic controllers. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the cuts will be implemented carefully to maintain safety, while major airlines, including Delta, United, American, Southwest, and Alaska, pledged to minimize disruptions and assist affected travelers. The move highlights worsening staffing shortages and fatigue among controllers, who are working extended hours without pay, compounding delays already caused by bad weather and long-term FAA workforce issues, according to Kathryn Palmer, Kathleen Wong, and Zach Wichter of USA Today. Passengers whose flights are canceled will be eligible for full refunds, even if the cancellations are linked to the shutdown. They write:
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced in a news conference that there will be a 10% reduction in flights at 40 major airports at the end of the week due to the impacts of the ongoing federal government shutdown.
Duffy’s comments came two days after he warned there could be far-reaching flight cancellations and disruptions to air travel, pointing to the pressure on the country’s air traffic controllers.
“I think it’s going to lead to more cancellations, but we are going to work with the airlines to do this in a systematic way,” Duffy said on Nov. 5 in response to reporters’ questions. […]
▶ Delta Air Lines says it expect to operate vast majority of its flights as scheduled, including all long-haul international flights. In a statement shared with USA TODAY, the airline said it would work to minimize customer impact while prioritizing safety. All directly impacted customers will be allowed to change or cancel their flights without penalty, including travelers who booked in typically non-refundable basic economy.
▶ United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby promised refunds to customers who did not want to fly during restrictions on flights imposed by U.S. transportation officials that are set to begin at the end of the week.
▶ Southwest Airlines said it is evaluating how the flight restrictions will “affect our schedule and will communicate directly with customers as soon as possible,” the company told USA TODAY in an email statement. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees. We continue to urge Congress to immediately resolve its impasse and restore the National Airspace System to its full capacity.”
▶ American Airlines told USA TODAY that flights on Nov. 6 will operate as planned and are waiting for the FAA to provide additional information to “determine which flights will be impacted.”
▶ Alaska Airlines said that they’re also aware of the FAA’s plan to reduce flights as soon as Nov. 7 due to the government shutdown. “We’re staying close to the FAA and awaiting further guidance. More information will be shared as it becomes available, and we continue to call for an end to the government shutdown,” the airlines said in a statement.
▶ JetBlue has not yet responded to USA TODAY’s request for comment, but in a reply to a user on X posted, “Please know if your flight is affected, you’ll receive an email as soon as possible. We appreciate your understanding.” […]
The shutdown may contribute to some of these staff issues as controllers need to find other sources of income, but it’s not necessarily the root cause of all the staffing-related problems in air travel even now.
Read more here.
