FAA Airport Flight Shutdown List
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Wednesday, October 4, 2023, that it will begin slowing air traffic starting Friday, October 6, 2023, due to the ongoing government shutdown.
- "I'm not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we've had a situation where we're taking these kinds of measures," Bedford said.
- Air traffic controllers began working without pay on October 1, 2023, when the shutdown commenced.
FAA to Slow Air Traffic Due to Government Shutdown, Potential Flight Cancellations
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Shutdown Impacts Air Travel Safety
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Wednesday, October 4, 2023, that it will begin slowing air traffic starting Friday, October 6, 2023, due to the ongoing government shutdown. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated the move is necessary to maintain air space safety as the shutdown continues. Experts anticipate hundreds, perhaps thousands, of flights could be canceled as an inevitable result.
“I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” Bedford said. “We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns.” This shutdown, as of Wednesday, October 4, 2023, became the longest in U.S. history.
Staffing Pressures adn Controller Fatigue
Air traffic controllers began working without pay on October 1, 2023, when the shutdown commenced. Many are mandated to work overtime six days a week, limiting their ability to supplement their income and increasing the risk of fatigue. The FAA is responding to mounting staffing pressures, according to Bedford.
“We can’t ignore it,” Bedford stated during a news conference. He added that even if the shutdown ends before Friday, October 6, 2023, the FAA will not immediately return to normal operations until staffing levels stabilize.
The FAA and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have not yet specified which cities and airports will experience reduced air traffic. They plan to meet with airline executives to determine the safest way to implement the reductions.
Industry Response and Concerns
Major airlines, aviation unions, and the travel industry are collectively urging Congress to resolve the shutdown. U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman expressed concern that the shutdown is creating unneeded strain on the air travel system.
“The shutdown is putting unnecessary strain on the system and forcing challenging operational decisions that disrupt travel and damage confidence in the U.S.air travel experience,” Freeman said in a statement. The potential for widespread flight cancellations raises concerns about economic impact and traveler disruption.
Past Context: Longest Government shutdown
The shutdown that prompted the FAA’s action surpassed the previous record of 35 days set during the Trump administration in 2018-2019. That shutdown, stemming from a dispute over funding for a border wall, also caused notable disruptions to government services and impacted hundreds of thousands of federal employees. History.com provides a detailed timeline of the 2018-2019 shutdown.