Shutdown Standoff Eyes 10% Flight Cuts at 40 Airports Friday

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reportedly readies orders for the cuts if no funding deal emerges.

The move targets scheduled air traffic amid severe staffing shortages from unpaid controllers and screeners.

Nearly half of the 30 busiest U.S. airports already face controller shortages, sparking over 6,200 delays on a single recent Friday. This escalation, per federal aviation data, stems from the shutdown’s 35-day toll on essential workers, who remain on duty without back pay. Airlines and passengers alike brace for cascading effects on routes nationwide.

The proposed 10% reduction would hit hubs like Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, and Los Angeles International hardest, potentially grounding thousands of flights weekly. Officials cite safety as paramount, with Duffy warning of broader airspace closures if risks mount from fatigue and absences. Such measures, drawn from contingency plans last invoked in 2019, aim to prioritize critical operations over routine travel.

Economic ripples from the shutdown already include 16,700 weekend delays and 2,282 cancellations, hammering airlines with millions in losses. Small carriers in affected regions report booking drops of up to 20%, while cargo hauls face similar squeezes, slowing goods flow. Broader fallout threatens tourism hotspots, where local economies rely on steady air arrivals for revenue.

Negotiations in the Senate show glimmers of progress on a spending bill, yet House divisions over spending cuts keep the impasse alive. Bipartisan calls urge swift action to avert the air traffic crunch, with some lawmakers floating emergency furlough waivers for aviation staff. As the clock ticks toward Friday, the impasse tests public patience with impacts felt from runways to family reunions.