More than 1,000 flights have been canceled nationwide as the Federal Aviation Administration is temporarily reducing flights at 40 high-traffic airports by 10%, citing safety concerns amid the ongoing government shutdown. Starting Friday, affected airports began to see a reduction in operations, which will ramp up to a 10% decrease in flights by Nov. 14, just ahead of the busy holiday travel season.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the decision was a result of stress and fatigue among air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay through the shutdown, which is in its second month. The FAA warned last week that a surge in air traffic controllers calling out was “straining staffing levels at multiple facilities.”
“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,” Bedford said . “The FAA will continue to closely monitor operations, and we will not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the move “isn’t about politics — it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay.”
