The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed a 10% reduction in flights at 40 of the country’s busiest airports starting Friday, November 7.
The decision was announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Dufffy as a necessary step to maintain safety as air traffic controllers are forced to work without their pay, causing widespread chaos and staff shortages leading to major flight delays.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said at a news conference, “We see pressures mounting in a way that we believe will not allow us to continue to tell the public that we operate the safest aviation system in the world.” »
The reductions will be implemented in stages, starting with a 4% reduction on Friday, November 7, then 5% on Saturday, November 8, and 6% on Sunday, November 9.
A total reduction of 10% is expected to be imposed next week. The move aims to minimize pressure on air traffic controllers at “high volume” airports, as workers will not receive their second pay since the shutdown began 36 days ago.
List of airports concerned
The FAA has not released a complete list of airports but as reported CBS Newsthe following airports are more likely to be affected:
- Anchorage International (ANC)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Boston Logan International (BOS)
- Baltimore/Washington International (IBB)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
- Dallas Love (DAL)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- Denver International (DEN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Metropolitan Detroit County (DTW)
- Newark Liberty International (EWR)
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
- Honolulu International (HNL)
- Houston Hobby (HOU)
- Washington Dulles International (IAD)
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
- Indianapolis International (IND)
- New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- Orlando International (MCO)
- Chicago Midway (MDW)
- Memphis International (MEM)
- Miami International (MIA)
- Minneapolis/St Paul International (MSP)
- Oakland International (OAK)
- Ontario International (ONT)
- Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
- Portland International (PDX)
- Philadelphia International (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- San Diego International Airport (SAN)
- Louisville International (SDF)
- Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
- Teterboro (TEB)
- Tampa International (TPA)
Airport scrambles, offers refunds
The announcement sent airlines scrambling to adjust their schedules within 36 hours. While issuing an advisory, airlines announced their strategies to combat the current situation.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the carrier would spare long-haul international flights and instead focus on regional flights and non-hub domestic routes.
“United’s long-haul international flights and our hub-to-hub flights will not be affected by this FAA schedule reduction direction. This is important to maintain the integrity of our network, provide affected customers with as many options as possible to resume their travel, and maintain our crew matching systems,” he said in a memo.
“Instead, we will focus our schedule reductions on regional and mainline domestic flights that do not travel between our hubs,” he added.
The airline also offered refunds to its customers, stating that “any customer traveling during this period is entitled to a refund if they do not wish to travel – even if their flight is not affected. This includes non-refundable tickets and customers with basic economy tickets.”
American Airlines said it expects the “vast majority” of its customers’ travel to be unaffected.
Southwest Airlines said it was assessing the impact and would communicate directly with customers, while urging Congress to “immediately resolve its impasse.”
