MWE Correspondent
Air passengers across the United States are being warned to expect widespread delays and cancellations as the U.S. government shutdown continues to paralyze key sectors of transportation.
U.S Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that, starting Friday morning, around 40 of the nation’s busiest airports will see a 10 percent reduction in flights if lawmakers fail to reach a deal to reopen the government.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the cuts will begin gradually — 4 percent on Friday, 5 percent on Saturday, and 6 percent on Sunday — before reaching the full 10 percent by early next week. This could translate to as many as 4,000 flights canceled daily, a blow to both the travel industry and millions of passengers. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the decision followed mounting pressure from air-traffic controllers, many of whom have been working without pay since the shutdown began.
“This situation is unlike anything we’ve seen,” Bedford said during a joint briefing with Duffy. “Our controllers have gone a full month without pay. Some are calling in sick, others are quitting altogether — and that’s creating a serious safety concern.”
The shutdown, now the longest in American history, has forced tens of thousands of federal employees, including more than 13,000 air-traffic controllers, to work unpaid.
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Several major airports have already reported temporary suspensions of flights due to staff shortages, while others have been forced to rely on borrowed controllers from nearby states.
Labor leaders say the situation has reached a breaking point. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said many of his members are struggling to afford transportation to work. “Controllers are texting me saying, ‘I don’t even have gas money to get to my shift,’” he revealed. “It’s heartbreaking, and it’s dangerous.”
Duffy acknowledged those hardships but defended the FAA’s decision to cut flights, saying the move is necessary to preserve safety in U.S. skies. “We’re not waiting for a disaster to happen,” he said. “If things don’t change, parts of our airspace could be forced to shut down entirely.”
The cascading effects are already being felt. Airlines are scrambling to reorganize schedules, airports are bracing for long lines and delays, and passengers are left wondering whether their weekend plans will take off at all. Industry analysts warn that a prolonged reduction in flight capacity could cost the aviation sector hundreds of millions of dollars.
