US Government Shutdown Threatens Air Travel Safety

Thu Nov 06 2025 05:07:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Transportation Secretary warns of potential 10% reduction in flights at 40 major airports due to growing concerns over air traffic controller fatigue amidst the ongoing government shutdown.

As the longest government shutdown in US history continues, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that air travel could see a steep reduction due to the impact on air traffic controllers. Starting Friday, a 10% decrease in capacity at 40 airports is expected, with safety and efficiency at risk as controllers work unpaid and face increasing fatigue. Major airlines are preparing for significant flight cancellations affecting thousands of passengers.

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, reports Reuters.

The names of the affected airports - all high-traffic locations - will be released on Thursday. 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 is still safe, and the decision to cancel flights was made to maintain safety and efficiency. If the shutdown continues and adds more pressure to the system, additional restrictions may be required.

A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines stated that the company is still evaluating how the flight restrictions will affect its services and will inform customers as soon as possible.

We continue to urge Congress to immediately resolve its impasse and restore the National Airspace System to its full capacity, the spokesperson added.

Delta Airlines declined to comment. The BBC has also reached out to other major US airlines.

Once government funds ran out on October 1, most federal workers were sent home and told they would be paid once the government reopened. Those deemed essential, like controllers, though, had to keep doing their jobs without pay.

Almost immediately after the shutdown started, airports began feeling the effects. Some had to ground flights for hours after air traffic controllers called out sick, while others relied on controllers from other airports.

Nick Daniels, the president of the labor union representing more than 20,000 aviation workers, put the situation into stark terms on Wednesday, emphasizing the unpredictable scenario that controllers face.

Air traffic controllers are texting 'I don't even have enough money to put gas in my car to come to work,' he told CNN.

We base what we do day in and day out on predictability. Right now there is no predictability.