The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a 10% reduction in air traffic at 40 major U.S. airports starting Friday. By Friday morning, more than 800 flights linked to the U.S. had already been cancelled, according to FlightAware.
The U.S. government has been shut down since October 1st, marking the longest shutdown in the country's history. As a result, air traffic controllers have been working without pay for nearly six weeks, causing staffing shortages and delays.
“There’ll be frustration,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “But in the end, our sole role is to make sure that we keep this airspace as safe as possible.”
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford cited rising fatigue among air traffic controllers and safety concerns, explaining the need to reduce traffic before reaching a crisis.
According to CBS News, the affected airports include major hubs:
Air Canada told the National Post that it is closely monitoring the situation and waiting for details on the planned flight reductions. Currently, the airline is maintaining its normal schedule but is preparing for possible disruptions affecting passengers connecting to U.S. flights.