U.S. Government Shutdown Forces Authorities to Cut Flights by 10% at 40 Major Airports

As the U.S. government shutdown continues, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday, November 5, a 10% reduction in flight capacity at 40 major airports starting Friday morning.

This move will impact between 3,500 and 4,000 daily flights, marking one of the largest air traffic reductions in recent years. The Department of Transportation has not yet released a list of the airports affected, but Duffy described the decision at a press conference as a "proactive measure" aimed at mitigating operational risks and ensuring passenger safety amid the ongoing crisis.

Brian Bedford, head of the FAA, explained that authorities may take further action after the initial phase of cuts, depending on how the situation develops. He noted that the extended government shutdown has already caused delays and cancellations of thousands of flights across U.S. airports, leading to widespread disruption for airlines and travelers. "As we continue to analyze operational data, we are noticing increasing pressures that could threaten our ability to maintain the United States' reputation as having the safest air traffic system in the world," Bedford said.

Duffy added that more cancellations are expected in the coming days without specifying a timeline for when the decision will end, stating that the 10% reduction represents "the minimum acceptable to alleviate pressure on the air system."

This decision comes at a time when air traffic controllers have not received paychecks for weeks due to the government shutdown, which on Wednesday became the longest in U.S. history, deepening the crisis affecting vital sectors in the country, particularly aviation.