US Flights Could Be Cut by 20% if Shutdown Continues

United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy warned on Friday that he may have to compel airlines to cut up to 20% of their flights if the government shutdown does not end. Against this backdrop, American airlines are urgently trying to implement the unprecedented cuts mandated by the government.

Already on Friday, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instructed airlines at 40 major airports to reduce flights by 4%. It is expected that this figure will reach 10% by November 14.

At the heart of the problem is the record-breaking 38-day shutdown, which has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security personnel to work without pay. This has led to a sharp increase in absenteeism. On Friday alone, hundreds of flights were delayed at 10 airports, including Atlanta, San Francisco, and Washington, due to the absence of air traffic controllers. According to the FlightAware website, more than 5,300 flight delays were recorded.

The Trump administration is trying to use the prospect of air travel disruptions to pressure congressional Democrats to agree to the Republicans' plan for funding the federal government. Democrats, in turn, blame Republicans for the shutdown for refusing to negotiate on healthcare subsidies.

Secretary Duffy stated that if the situation worsens and more controllers do not show up for work, they may have to cut 20% of flights. "We will make decisions based on the situation in the airspace," he said.

The four largest airlines—American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines—cut about 700 flights on Friday. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom noted that the initial cuts will not cause significant disruptions but warned that "over time, this level of cancellations will grow, and that will be problematic."

The cuts do not affect international flights, but the FAA is also restricting space launches and may also reduce private jet flights.