FAA Flight Cuts Have Begun-Here's What Travelers Need to Know

"The agency's unprecedented flight reduction plan is an effort to maintain aviation safety levels amid short-staffing levels at air traffic control towers nationwide. Air traffic controllers-who work grueling 10-hour shifts up to six days per week-are scheduled to miss their second paycheck on November 11 due to the lack of government funding, and will not receive backpay until the shutdown ends."

"By reducing air traffic in some of the country's busiest airspace, officials say they hope to relieve some of that stress. "We're not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating," Bedford said at a November 5 press conference. The preventative measures take effect on Friday, November 7, and they should also help reduce flight delays, officials say."

Hundreds of U.S. flights are being cancelled per day as the FAA reduces flights by 10% at 40 of the busiest airports because of the government shutdown. The reductions aim to maintain aviation safety amid short staffing at air traffic control towers. Air traffic controllers work grueling 10-hour shifts up to six days per week and are scheduled to miss a second paycheck on November 11, with no backpay until the shutdown ends. The cuts are intended to relieve controller stress, reduce delays, and prevent safety problems. Airlines report thousands of cancellations and tens of thousands of seats removed.

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