Air Traffic Crisis Clips 10% of US Flights as Controller Shortage Grounds Airport Operations
The sky isn’t falling, but flight schedules certainly are. Starting today, the FAA will cut flights by 10% across 40 major US airports as the five-week shutdown pushes the system to its limits. With nearly 2K controller positions unfilled and up to 4K flights being grounded daily, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the “proactive” cuts are the only way to keep the air-traffic system stable.
- Preliminary airport lists include New York City’s three major hubs plus Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Francisco, with the FAA set to confirm locations after briefings.
- United AirlinesUAL CEO Scott Kirby said international and hub-to-hub routes will hold, with cuts limited to regional and domestic services and refunds offered even for basic economy.
The turbulence ahead: As the shutdown pushes into uncharted territory, Duffy said controllers are about to miss a full month of pay, pushing some to skip shifts for side jobs. DeltaDAL, AmericanAAL, and SouthwestLUV expect most flights to operate normally while offering penalty-free cancellations and rebooking across all fare classes. Still, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford warned more limits could follow if staffing doesn’t recover, with nearly 500 aviation companies warning of holiday travel chaos if the standoff drags on.