FAA Implements Gradual Flight Reductions Amid Staffing Shortages

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a gradual reduction in air travel capacity by 10% due to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shared this decision with reporters at Reagan National Airport, emphasizing that the agency's safety team recommended this approach.

Duffy indicated that if controller absences continue to rise, the Department of Transportation may request airlines to cancel more than 10% of their flights. Currently, travelers are experiencing significant delays, with an average wait of four hours at Reagan National Airport, 90 minutes at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and about an hour at major airports in Chicago, Houston, and Austin.

On Friday, major airlines are expected to cancel hundreds of flights as the FAA begins limiting capacity at 40 major U.S. airports amid the ongoing government shutdown. Despite nearly 1,000 flight cancellations reported on Friday, delays persist across the country due to staffing issues in air traffic control towers and centers.

Duffy expressed hope that the government shutdown would end soon, allowing for a return to normal travel operations. He stated, "My hope is that this government shutdown will end soon and we can get back in the business of letting Americans travel."

As of Friday, more than 16 air traffic control facilities nationwide are experiencing staffing shortages. Some of these facilities manage airspace across multiple states. Pilots have reported slower responses from air traffic controllers, improper terminology usage, and increased incidents of aircraft coming too close together.

Duffy advised against canceling or refraining from booking flights for the Thanksgiving holiday. He noted, "I want it to be fixed, but also I have to continue to look at data and if this continues, and I have more [air traffic] controllers who decide they can't come to work and control the airspace, but instead have to take a second job, with that you might see 10% would have been a good number, because we might go to 15% or 20%."

This situation could potentially cost airlines tens of millions of dollars. The FAA's initial plan was to implement a 10% reduction starting Friday, but officials opted for a gradual approach to ensure safety. Duffy highlighted that data indicating a loss of separation between aircraft and increased pilot complaints about controller stress contributed to this decision.

"We've seen more breaches in regard to that loss of separation, we see more incursions on tarmac throughout the country, and we have more complaints from pilots about stress from air traffic controllers, and more complaints about the lack of responsiveness from controllers," Duffy explained.

To alleviate pressure at the affected airports, the FAA has requested that private jets avoid flying into the 40 impacted airports, although they are not currently prohibited from doing so. Duffy noted that private jet companies have been cooperative, opting for alternate airports.

As of 4:10 p.m. ET on Friday, at least 966 flights within, into, or out of the United States have been canceled, according to FlightAware. American Airlines announced it would cancel about 220 of its approximately 6,000 departures starting Friday and continuing through the weekend. United Airlines plans to cancel fewer than 200 of its more than 5,000 daily flights through the weekend, with cancellations listed on a special webpage for travelers.