The US government shutdown impacts the aviation industry, with the FAA planning to cut 10% of flights at 40 major airports.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that due to the record-breaking 36th day of the government shutdown, he will order 10% of flights to be cut at 40 major airports in the U.S. out of concerns for air traffic control safety. This radical plan forces airlines to significantly reduce flights within 36 hours. Duffy stated that if the Democratic Party agrees to reopen the government, these cuts may be reversed. The shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, has left 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration employees working without pay. The Trump administration has been increasing pressure to compel the Democratic Party to agree to end the shutdown, emphasizing the potential major disruptions in the aviation industry to push for the reopening of the government. The Democratic Party, on the other hand, accuses the Republican Party of refusing to negotiate on crucial healthcare subsidies, leading to the shutdown. Staff shortage worsened by the shutdown Since the start of the shutdown, tens of thousands of flights have been delayed due to a widespread shortage of air traffic controllers. Airlines have reported that at least 3.2 million passengers have been impacted by the shortage of air traffic controllers. Duffy told reporters, "We have reflected on ourselves, thinking about what our responsibility is. Our responsibility is to make tough decisions to ensure the safety of the airspace." He cited a confidential security assessment report on the impact of the shutdown on air traffic controllers, expressing concerns about their performance. Industry sources revealed that during a conference call with major U.S. airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that airport capacity reductions would start at 4% on Saturday, increase to 5% on Sunday, and reach 10% next week. The FAA also plans to exempt international flights from the cuts. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said at a press conference, "We cannot ignore the increasing pressures we are seeing at 40 airports. We can take action today to prevent things from getting worse, so the system today and tomorrow will be extremely safe." While the U.S. government has not disclosed the list of the 40 affected airports, it is expected that the cuts will impact 30 of the busiest airports, including those in New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Aviation analysis company Cirium estimates that this will reduce up to 1,800 flights and over 268,000 airline seats. U.S. government officials have stated that nothing will be finalized until the FAA issues its mandate on Thursday. This action aims to alleviate the pressure on air traffic controllers. The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of its target staffing level, and even before the shutdown, many controllers were already working mandatory overtime and six days a week. Assessment of impact by airlines The FAA also warned that if there are further air traffic issues in the future, more flight restrictions may be imposed. United Airlines (UAL.US) CEO Scott Kirby outlined the airline's strategy to reduce flights, assuring employees and passengers that long-haul international flights and Hub Group, Inc. Class A flights will proceed as scheduled. The cuts will affect regional routes and non-Hub Group, Inc. Class A domestic routes. Kirby emphasized a flexible refund policy and told employees, "If passengers do not want to fly, any passenger traveling during this period is eligible for a refund - even if their flight is not affected." American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL.US) expressed a similar viewpoint, stating that the majority of its passengers will experience minimal impact. The largest domestic airline in the U.S., Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV.US), stated that it is evaluating the impact of these cuts on its flight schedule and will communicate with passengers as soon as possible; it also urged lawmakers to immediately resolve the government funding deadlock. The Flight Attendants Association representing 55,000 flight attendants from 20 airlines (CWA) called the shutdown a "cruel attack" on all Americans. The organization's president Sara Nelson stated, "The idea that this shutdown is necessary to choose between paying federal workers and securing affordable healthcare is simply ridiculous. Because those causing these two crises are the ones who can solve them." Most U.S. federal government departments have been closed because of the deadlock in Congress between the Republican and Democratic parties on a funding bill. Democrats insist they will not approve a proposal that does not extend healthcare subsidies, while Republicans refuse to accept this proposal. Trump and the Republicans have been trying to pressure the Democrats by increasing the pain felt by ordinary Americans due to the government shutdown. Airlines prepare for a decline in bookings The shutdown began on October 1, leading to many low-income Americans losing food assistance, the closure of many government services, and the temporary layoffs of about 750,000 federal employees. On Tuesday, Duffy warned that if the shutdown continues for another week, it could lead to "significant disruptions" and force him to close parts of the national airspace to limit air traffic. Airlines have repeatedly called for an end to the shutdown, citing aviation safety risks. Stocks of major airlines, including United Airlines and American Airlines Group Inc., fell in after-hours trading. Airlines have stated that the shutdown has not had a significant impact on their operations, but warned that if it continues, bookings may decline. Over 2,100 flights were delayed on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Bedford stated that 20% to 40% of controllers at the FAA's 30 largest airports were not able to report to work on time. Duffy also announced limitations on space launches and anticipated further restrictions on general aviation flights.