Federal Authorities Cuts Back US Air Travel as Shutdown Stretches On

As the historic federal government shutdown approaches day 38, US airspace is about to get a little less busy. This doesn't apply for US air travel hubs.

Protective Actions Put in Place

The federal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced air travel is being curtailed to maintain air traffic control safety during the federal government shutdown, setting a new duration record and with little indication of a solution between conservative legislators and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget standoff.

Airline regulators selected “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, an action that will compel airlines to call off thousands of journeys and create a chain reaction of scheduling problems and setbacks at major US air terminals.

Official Statement

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, commented on online platforms Thursday that the decision was “not politically driven” but rather “about assessing the data and mitigating accumulating danger in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” he remarked.

Airline Cutbacks

Specialists anticipate hundreds if not thousands of flights might be called off. These reductions may constitute approximately 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats total, according to an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Impacted Locations

The affected airports spanning more than two dozen states include the busiest ones across the US – including ATL, North Carolina's city, Colorado's hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – including NYC, Texas city and Chicago – several air terminals will be impacted.

All three airports serving the nation's capital region – Dulles Airport, BWI and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be affected, certainly generating schedule changes for elected representatives as well as other travelers.

Additional Developments

• Here’s the compilation of American air terminals decreasing flights on Friday because of federal government closure.
• A previous justice department staffer who hurled a sandwich at a government officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement presence in Washington DC received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal rebuke of the federal intervention.
• Several liberal representatives saw Tuesday’s major voting successes as proof they should stand firm and gain maximum concessions from conservative lawmakers before agreeing to end the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her declaration that after 20 terms in Congress she plans to retire.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the political research group behind the conservative initiative, issued an apology for supporting the commentator's interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to resign.