A routine journey to the skies may result in long lines and a change of plans as airlines abide by a Federal Aviation Administration order to cut flights by 4% in high-traffic airports starting Friday.<\/p>\n
The cuts are building up to a 10% reduction in capacity at 40 locations, designed to ease pressure points and address fatigue among air traffic controllers as the government shutdown drags on. <\/p>\n
Here’s how the reductions, delays and cancellations are unfolding.<\/p>\n
The government shutdown has hit the aviation industry hard, resulting in delays, cancellations, burnout and mounting pressure on short-staffed air traffic controllers. <\/p>\n
Air traffic controllers are highly specialized federal employees who have gone without pay in the shutdown, now in its second month.<\/p>\n
Since the start of the shutdown, there’s been an increase in “staffing triggers” at air traffic facilities across the country, resulting in “increased reports of strain on the system from both pilots and air traffic controllers,” the Transportation Department said Thursday. Controllers have experienced exhaustion, \u201csick outs\u201d and, in some cases, have picked up second jobs<\/a> to make ends meet. <\/p>\n Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced the 10% reduction Wednesday<\/a>, calling it a “proactive” effort to keep American airspace safe while addressing the “fatigue” impacting on controllers. <\/p>\n