Overview
- Airlines began implementing an FAA directive Friday that starts with roughly a 4% schedule reduction and ramps to 10% by Nov. 14 at 40 major airports.
- More than 800 flights were canceled nationwide Friday, according to the Associated Press, as carriers trimmed operations and staffing stress persisted.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended the capacity limits as a safety measure and said he asked the controllers’ union leader to urge members to report to work.
- Duffy said airlines will lose millions of dollars under the plan and pressed Congress to reopen the government to restore pay and ease staffing pressure.
- Former NTSB managing director Peter Goelz questioned Duffy’s handling and expertise, while Republican ex-Rep. Adam Kinzinger called the cuts a stunt, with the turmoil renewing talk of airspace privatization.