Bangla Press Desk: US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Friday he could force airlines to cut up to 20% of flights if the government shutdown did not end, as U.S. airlines on Friday scrambled to make unprecedented government-imposed reductions.
The Federal Aviation Administration instructed airlines to cut 4% of flights on Friday at 40 major airports because of the government shutdown. The cuts will rise to 10% by November 14.
Separately, air traffic controller absences on Friday forced the FAA to delay hundreds of flights at 10 airports including Atlanta, San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and Newark. By 7:30 p.m. ET (1130 GMT), there were more than 5,300 flight delays, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website.
At Reagan Washington National, delays were averaging four hours, while 17% of flights were cancelled and nearly 40% delayed.
During the record 38-day government shutdown, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been forced to work without pay, leading to increased absenteeism. Many air traffic controllers were notified on Thursday that they would receive no pay for a second pay period next week.
The Trump administration has sought to ramp up pressure on Democrats in Congress to agree to a Republican plan to fund the federal government, which would allow it to reopen.
Raising the specter of dramatic air-travel disruptions is one such effort. Democrats contend Republicans are to blame for the shutdown because they refuse to negotiate over extending health insurance subsidies.
Duffy told reporters it was possible he could require 20% cuts in air traffic if things get worse and more controllers do not show up for work. "I assess the data," Duffy said. "We're going to make decisions based on what we see in the airspace."
The cuts, which began at 6 a.m. ET (1100 GMT), include about 700 flights from the four largest carriers - American Airlines (AAL.O), opens new tab, Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), opens new tab, Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), opens new tab and United Airlines (UAL.O), opens new tab - and are set to rise to 6% on Tuesday and then 10% by November 14 if the shutdown does not end.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted a photo of an airport flight board filled with canceled flights. "The GOP shutdown has grounded America — just in time for the holidays!" she wrote.
BP/TD
