WASHINGTON, Nov 9 — Major US airlines are preparing for a third day of government-mandated flight reductions as air traffic control staffing shortages continue to disrupt thousands of flights.
WASHINGTON, Nov 9 — Major US airlines are preparing for a third day of government-mandated flight reductions as air traffic control staffing shortages continue to disrupt thousands of flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directed airlines to cut 4% of daily flights at 40 major airports starting Friday due to safety concerns amid a record 40-day government shutdown. Flight reductions are set to increase to 6% today and reach 10% by November 14.
Yesterday, staffing shortages affected 42 airport towers and centers, causing delays at least 12 major cities including Atlanta, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York. Around 1,550 flights were canceled and 6,700 delayed, up from 1,025 cancellations and 7,000 delays on Friday. Airline officials said the extensive delay programs made flight planning nearly impossible and raised concerns over further staffing shortfalls.
The cuts affect roughly 700 flights from the four largest carriers — American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and United — with similar numbers expected today. During the shutdown, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been working without pay.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that flight reductions could rise to 20% if more controllers fail to report to work. Republican Senator Ted Cruz noted that pilots have filed over 500 safety reports citing controller errors due to fatigue since the shutdown began. — Reuters
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