(AURN News) – Starting Friday morning, the Federal Aviation Administration will cut flight capacity by 10% across 40 high-volume markets to maintain safety during the government shutdown. The agency says air traffic controllers are showing fatigue after working unpaid for more than a month during the shutdown. With many working six-day schedules and mandatory overtime, thousands of flights are expected to be trimmed each day.
Roughly 3,500 to 4,000 flights at major hubs, including Atlanta; Chicago O’Hare; New York’s JFK, LaGuardia and Newark; Los Angeles; Miami; Dallas-Fort Worth; and Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National, Dulles and BWI are on the table. Airlines met with the FAA to spread the cuts throughout the day, protect maintenance and crew schedules, and rebook passengers where possible.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the plan is proactive and data-driven, with more restrictions possible if pressure continues to build. Check your airline before heading out.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
