FAA Swears They'll Cut US Air Flights by 10% This Week Because of the Government Shutdown

"Now the Associated Press reports that the Trump administration is demanding that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reduce all US airline flights by 10%, starting this Friday, November 7. KRON4 says the cuts will be applied to 40 high-volume markets, which presumably would mean some of the 40 busiest airports across the US. I anticipate there will be additional disruptions, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday, according to KRON4. There will be frustration."

"We are working with the airlines, they are going to work with passengers, but in the end our sole role is to keep this airspace as safe as possible. Flights at SFO are "likely" to be affected by this, as the Chronicle reports, but the higher-ups in the Trump administration have not yet decided which of these 40 high-volume markets are going to see their flight counts cut."

US airline flight capacity will be cut by 10% starting Friday due to the government shutdown and staffing shortages. Air traffic controllers are working without pay and many are calling in sick, creating a shortage that threatens safety. The administration directed the FAA to reduce flights across 40 high-volume markets beginning November 7. San Francisco International Airport is likely to be affected, though specific markets have not been chosen. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford are meeting with major carriers and expect to announce planned volume reductions and affected locations the following day. Additional disruptions are anticipated.

Read at sfist.com