"Last week, the FAA issued an order mandating that airlines begin reducing the number of flights they operate each day. The reason for this order is to lessen the burden on airports and their air traffic controllers, all of whom have not been paid in over a month due to the ongoing government shutdown. This lack of payment has led to air traffic controller staffing shortages, as many controllers have taken on other jobs to help pay the bills while their checks are on pause."
"On Friday, the first phase of those reductions went into effect, with airlines ordered to reduce flights by 4% over the weekend. That percentage will grow in steps throughout the week to 10% by this Friday. But even the 4% reduction has already led to significant disruptions this weekend. According to data from flight-tracking service FlightAware, on Sunday, there were a total of 10,477 flight delays into, out of, or within the United States."
The FAA issued an order requiring airlines to reduce daily flights to lessen burdens on understaffed airports and air traffic controllers who have not been paid during a government shutdown. Many controllers have taken other jobs, causing staffing shortages and heightened safety risks that flight reductions aim to mitigate. Phased reductions began with a 4% cut over the weekend and will escalate to a mandated 10% of U.S. air traffic by Friday. The initial cuts already produced thousands of delays and nearly 3,000 cancellations on Sunday. Transportation officials warn flights could slow further ahead of Thanksgiving.
Read at Fast Company
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