Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that the United States will cut flights at 40 major airports starting Friday if the ongoing government shutdown continues. The move, he said, is necessary to maintain safety amid growing fatigue and staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay for weeks.
The shutdown now the longest in US history has left thousands of federal workers without pay, including those deemed essential, such as air traffic controllers. “It is unusual, just as the shutdown is unusual,” said Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Bryan Bedford during a Wednesday briefing. He noted that some controllers are calling out sick or taking second jobs to make ends meet, raising safety concerns.
According to reports, flight reductions will begin gradually, starting with 4% of domestic flights on Friday, 5% on Saturday, and 6% on Sunday, before reaching 10% next week. The affected airports primarily high-traffic hubs will be named on Thursday. The cancellations could impact 3,500 to 4,000 flights per day, Reuters reported.
Duffy stressed that air travel remains safe but warned that continued strain on the system could force additional restrictions. “We are seeing pressures build in a way that, if left unchecked, could compromise our ability to maintain the world’s safest air system,” Bedford said.
Major airlines are bracing for disruptions. American Airlines said it was awaiting FAA guidance but expected “the vast majority” of travel to continue. Southwest Airlines noted it was evaluating the potential impact and urged Congress to end the impasse.
Union leaders have described the situation as dire, with controllers struggling to cover basic expenses. “Some can’t even afford gas to get to work,” said Nick Daniels, head of the air traffic controllers’ union.
As tensions rise, the message from Duffy remains clear: without a swift resolution to the shutdown, America’s skies could soon grow quieter.
