WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Aviation Administration On Wednesday, it announced a 10% reduction in air traffic in 40 “high-volume” markets starting Friday morning to maintain ongoing safety. government shutdown.
The FAA operates more than 44,000 flights each day, including commercial passenger, cargo and commercial aircraft, so the cuts will affect thousands of flights across the United States.
Air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown began on October 1. Some people are taking time off from work, and some shifts are understaffed. flight delay At many airports in the United States.
FAA Administrator Brian Bedford said the agency is not waiting for a crisis to occur, citing increased staffing pressures.
“You can’t ignore it,” he said.
Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said they would meet with airline executives later Wednesday to determine how to implement the flight reductions safely. Until then, the companies had not named the affected markets. Bedford said the list would be announced sometime Thursday.
“If pressure continues to build after we have taken these steps, we will come back and take additional steps,” Bedford said.
The Associated Press on Wednesday sent requests for comment on the FAA’s decision to major U.S. airlines, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines.
Southwest Airlines said it is evaluating the potential impact on schedules and will contact customers whose travel plans may be affected as soon as possible.
“We continue to urge Congress to immediately resolve the impasse and restore the National Airspace System to its full capacity,” the airline said.
The FAA may slow or stop planes heading to an airport due to weather conditions or when there are not enough controllers or other personnel or facilities available. Last weekend saw the worst staffing shortage during the longest shutdown in history. early wednesday.
At least 39 different air traffic control facilities announced potential staffing restrictions between Friday and Sunday evening, according to an Associated Press analysis of operational plans sent through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center System. This number is probably an undercount, but it is well above the average for the weekend before the shutdown.
The average number of airport towers, regional centers that oversee multiple airports and high-altitude traffic monitoring facilities that announced potential staffing issues during the weekend period from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30 was 8.3, according to an Associated Press analysis. But over the five weekend period since closures began on Oct. 1, the average more than tripled to 26.2 establishments.
Most air traffic controllers continue to work mandatory overtime six days a week during the shutdown. This leaves little time for side jobs to cover bills, mortgage payments, and other expenses unless directed to do so by management.
Major airlines, airline unions and the broader travel industry are calling on Congress to end the shutdown.
Wednesday’s announcement came on the heels of Duffy caveat A day earlier, he predicted that if the shutdown lasts too long, there could be so much chaos in the skies next week that air traffic controllers won’t be able to receive their second full paycheck next Tuesday.
Duffy said the FAA wants to take a proactive approach rather than reacting after a disaster. He pointed to a fatal mid-air collision between a civilian jet and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January.
“We learned from that, so now we’re looking at the data and trying to assess the pressure before it becomes an issue and take action before it has a negative impact,” Duffy said. “And that’s what’s happening here today.”
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Associated Press journalist Christopher L. Keller contributed from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
