U.S. Sets 10% Capacity Cut at 40 Major Airports as Shutdown Strains Air Traffic

Overview

• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the reduction includes the country’s busiest hubs to reduce stress on an understaffed control system.
• Officials will publish the list of affected airports on Thursday, and there is no overall estimate yet for how many flights will be canceled.
• The shutdown has entered day 36, the longest on record, with about 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA agents working without pay.
• The FAA said the cuts are intended to preserve safety and warned that additional measures, including partial closures of national airspace, may be required if the shutdown persists.
• Airlines have urged a resolution to the funding standoff, citing mounting operational disruptions and safety concerns.