US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that air travel capacity will be cut by up to 10% at 40 major airports over the coming days if the government shutdown continues.
The decision, affecting only domestic flights, comes as air traffic controllers report increased fatigue, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Approximately 1.4 million federal workers, including air traffic controllers, are currently working without pay or are on forced leave, as Congress has yet to agree on a federal funding budget.
Unions have expressed concerns, noting that many federal employees are stressed and taking on second jobs just to make ends meet.
The shutdown has become the longest in US history, raising concerns over operational safety in air travel. Naturally busy hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, and others may see flight reductions ramping up to a total of 10% by next week.
In a statement, American Airlines has indicated that they are monitoring the situation, while Southwest Airlines aims to evaluate how flight restrictions will impact their schedules. Meanwhile, Delta Airlines has not issued a comment.
The current crisis has left individuals like air traffic controllers feeling pressure to juggle their responsibilities with financial challenges at home, with reports of controllers seeking additional work just to support their families.
Duffy has reiterated that the cancellations are necessary to maintain safety standards, even as additional restrictive measures may need to be imposed if conditions continue to deteriorate.
