The United States (U.S.) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to reduce flight capacity by 10% at 40 major airports nationwide as the ongoing government shutdown extends into its 38th day. Officials say the move, effective Friday morning, is a precautionary measure to maintain safety amid growing staffing pressures.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasised that the reductions are based on data, not demand. “We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to manifest itself when early indicators tell us we can act now,” Bedford said. “The system is extremely safe today and will be extremely safe tomorrow.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the move “a proactive step to reduce risk in the national airspace,” while noting the cuts are temporary and proportionate across airlines.
Importantly, international and long-haul hub-to-hub flights will not be affected, officials confirmed. United Airlines reiterated that its international routes will operate as normal and assured passengers that refunds will be available for any canceled domestic flights, including non-refundable fares.
The full list of affected airports includes major hubs such as Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York’s JFK and LaGuardia. A final FAA order outlining the specific capacity adjustments is expected Thursday.
Airlines for America, representing major U.S. carriers, said it is working with federal officials “to understand all details of the new reduction mandate and mitigate impacts to passengers.”
The move marks an unprecedented step for the FAA. Bedford, a 35-year agency veteran, noted he had “never seen this happen before.”
