FAA Orders Airlines to “Reduce Flights”

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has instructed airlines to reduce flights amid a severe air traffic controller shortage caused by the country’s longest-ever government shutdown.

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced that flights at 40 major airports across the nation would be reduced by 10 percent. Airlines began implementing a 4 percent reduction on Friday, with that figure expected to rise to 10 percent next week.

Duffy warned that “if the shutdown continues, flight disruptions could rise to as much as 20 percent,” signalling that the crisis may deepen.

Ground Delay Programmes in Effect: Staff Shortages at 11 Major Airports

As of Saturday evening, ground delay programmes have been implemented at several major airports, indicating that the shortage of controllers in US airspace has reached critical levels.

According to the FAA’s published list, the airports affected include:

Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas-Fort Worth, Newark, Houston Hobby, George Bush Intercontinental, JFK, LaGuardia, Philadelphia, Chicago O’Hare, and San Francisco International Airport.

By 6 p.m. Eastern Time, more than 30 air traffic control facilities were reported to be suffering from staffing shortages.

Flight Cancellations Exceed a Thousand

According to flight tracking website FlightAware, over 1,000 flights were cancelled on Saturday as a result of the government shutdown and FAA directives.

The disruptions that began on Friday have slowed airline operations across the country.

The most affected airports include Charlotte, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, and Orlando. At Charlotte Douglas Airport alone, 120 flights were cancelled by Saturday noon.

Passengers and Airlines Frustrated: “Washington Must Act”

American Airlines called on Congress to act amid the ongoing flight chaos, stating, “An urgent solution must be found to end the government shutdown.”

The company announced that affected passengers are being offered rebooking or refund options. United Airlines and Delta have implemented similar measures.

As of Saturday:

• American Airlines: 292 flight cancellations (5.3%)
• United Airlines: 173 flight cancellations (4.2%)
• Delta Airlines: 160 flight cancellations (3.9%)
• Southwest Airlines: 83 flight cancellations

FAA Union Protest in Chicago

Members of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union held a protest at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

The union represents approximately 11,000 employees at the FAA and the Department of Defense. Many of these workers have been furloughed or are working without pay, demonstrating to highlight that “aviation safety is being compromised.”

Dangerous Moments: Near Misses on Runways

According to FAA reports, at least three dangerous incidents have occurred during the shutdown period.

On 31 October, at Los Angeles Airport, American Airlines and ITA Airways aircraft departing from parallel runways came dangerously close within seconds of each other.

Following the incident, the FAA launched an investigation into “the impact of controller shortages on air safety.”

Crisis Ongoing: Over 1,000 Daily Flight Cancellations Now the Norm

FlightAware data shows that more than 1,000 flights were also cancelled nationwide on Friday.

Airports with the highest number of cancellations include:

• Reagan National: 75
• Chicago O’Hare: 48
• Atlanta: 42
• Denver: 35

Transport Secretary Duffy stated, “We are forced to slow down traffic because there are not enough controllers in towers and radar centres. This is the only tool we have to keep the system safe.”

Experts Warn: Crisis Could Have Global Repercussions

Experts caution that if the government shutdown continues, disruptions in US air traffic could affect not only domestic travel but also international transport and trade.