The US Government’s shutdown to force a reduction in air traffic begins on Friday

The US Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday it was taking the unusual step of reducing air travel by 10 percent by another 40 percent to increase aviation safety as the government shutdown continues amid a further government shutdown.

The cuts are expected to affect thousands of airlines across the country because the FAA oversees more than 44,000 flights every day, including passenger planes, cargo planes and private planes.

The head of the FAA did not immediately identify which airports would be affected but said the restrictions would remain in place for as long as possible. It is not clear whether international flights will be affected.

Air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown began on Oct. 1, and most are on the job six days a week while putting in mandatory overtime. With some leaving the workforce due to frustration, taking on second jobs or not having money for childcare or gas, staff shortages at times have led to delays at airports.

FAA WAMA Administrator Bryan Bedford, citing growing labor pressures and safety reports that show growing fatigue among air traffic controllers, said he and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy do not want to wait until the situation reaches a crisis point.

“We can’t wait for a security crisis to prove ourselves when the early indications tell us that we can take action today to prevent things from collapsing,” said Umbede. “The system is very safe today and will be very safe tomorrow. If the pressures continue to build even after we take these measures, we will come back and take other measures.”

He and Duffy said they would meet with airline managers later Wednesday to figure out how to implement the reduction in flights.

The Associated Press on Wednesday sent requests for comment on the FAA’s decision to major airlines, including Delta, United and American Airlines.

Calls to United and American customer service hotlines were answered within minutes Wednesday afternoon, as worried passengers were peppering the planes with questions about the status of their upcoming flights.

Southwest Airlines says it is analyzing the potential impacts on its flight schedule and will reach out as soon as possible to customers whose travel plans may be affected.

“We continue to urge Congress to immediately address its dysfunction and restore the National AirSpace program to its full potential,” the carrier said.

A real hard worker

The FAA regularly delays or cancels flights at the airport due to weather conditions, equipment failures and technical problems. Staffing shortages can also lead to reduced or suspended travel if other staff cannot fill in or another position cannot absorb the workload.

Last weekend saw one of the worst unemployment shutdowns, which became the longest on record on Wednesday.

From Friday to Sunday evening, at least 39 air traffic control areas were controlled in different areas where there was limited operational capacity, according to an analysis of news related to the applications sent by the Air Traffic Control System Center System. The figure, which may be low, is above the average for the weekend before closing

Weekend times from Jan. 1 to September 30, the average number of Airport Towers, the regional centers that look after the centers of many airports and high apotures monitoring areas were announcing the possibility of having high aptitudes problems was 8.3, according to the AP analysis. But in the five weekends since the shutdown began on Oct

In the travel industry, unions are calling for an end to the shutdown

Major airlines, airline unions and the broader travel industry have urged Congress to end the shutdown.

Wednesday’s announcement came on the heels of Duffy warning a day earlier that there could be turbulence in the skies next week if the shutdown drags on long enough to be considered for full air travel.

Duffy said the FAA wanted to take a proactive approach instead of reacting after a disaster. He pointed to all the questions that arose after the fatal mid-January collision between a commercial airliner and a helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport about what to do soon.

“We’ve learned from that. And now we’re looking at the data, and before it becomes a problem, we’re trying to assess the stress and we’re trying to make the move before it has negative consequences,” Duffy said. “And that’s what’s happening here today.”