US Airports Face Flight Reductions Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

Wed Dec 10 2025 19:39:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announces a potential 10% reduction in flight capacity at 40 major US airports if the government shutdown persists, citing air traffic controller fatigue.

The US government shutdown could lead to significant disruptions in air travel, with a 10% reduction in flights at 40 major airports starting Friday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted ongoing issues with air traffic controller fatigue, as workers continue to perform their duties without pay. The shutdown, now the longest in US history, is prompting gradual flight cancellations beginning at 4% of domestic flights and escalating to 10% by next week. These changes could impact thousands of travelers daily as officials strive to maintain safety and efficiency in air travel.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned there will be a 10% reduction in air travel capacity at 40 major airports in the US starting Friday morning, if the government shutdown continues.

The decision was made because air traffic controllers have been reporting issues with fatigue, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said at a briefing with Duffy on Wednesday.

It is unusual, just as the shutdown is unusual, just as the fact that our controllers haven't been paid for a month is unusual, said FAA chief Bryan Bedford.

During the shutdown, now the longest in US history, controllers have had to keep working without pay, prompting some to call out sick or take side jobs.

The flight reductions will be gradual, starting at 4% of domestic flights on Friday, then rising to 5% on Saturday and 6% on Sunday, before hitting the full 10% next week, Reuters reported after the announcement, citing four unnamed sources.

The names of the affected airports - all high-traffic locations - will be released on Thursday, the officials said. The cancellations could affect between 3,500 and 4,000 flights per day.

We are seeing pressures build in a way that we don't feel - if we allow it to go unchecked - will allow us to continue to tell the public that we operate the safest airline system in the world, Bedford said.

Duffy said air travel is still safe, and the decision to cancel the flights was being made to maintain safety and efficiency.

If the shutdown continues and adds more pressure to the system, additional restrictive measures may be required, Bedford said.

A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, the fourth-largest carrier in North America, stated that the company is still evaluating how the flight restrictions will affect its services, and will notify customers as soon as possible.

Once government funds ran out on October 1, most federal workers were sent home and told they would be paid once the government reopened. Those deemed essential, like controllers, though, had to keep doing their jobs without pay.

Nick Daniels, the president of the labor union representing more than 20,000 aviation workers, put the situation into stark terms on Wednesday. Air traffic controllers are texting 'I don't even have enough money to put gas in my car to come to work.'

Duffy previously warned about the risk of flight cancellations as half of the country's 30 major airports experience staffing shortages, leading to unpredictability in air travel.