Holiday Travel Could Be Grounded by Government Gridlock
As Thanksgiving nears, Americans planning to fly home for the holidays may face unexpected turbulence. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is warning that the ongoing government shutdown could significantly disrupt air travel, potentially reducing flights to a mere “trickle.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already taken steps to mitigate the impact of the shutdown, mandating major airports across the nation to reduce air traffic by 4%. This measure is a direct response to the growing shortage of air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay for over a month due to the unresolved budget impasse in Washington.
Further reductions are expected if the shutdown continues. The FAA has reportedly informed airlines to prepare for a 6% reduction in flights starting this week, followed by a potential 10% cut on November 14th. These measures are intended to ensure the safety of air travel, but they come at the cost of convenience and accessibility for holiday travelers.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated, “We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely.”
Secretary Duffy cautioned that flight reductions could escalate to as high as 20% if the shutdown persists. This would have a “substantial” impact on the public’s ability to travel during the holiday season. The prospect of families being unable to reunite for Thanksgiving is a serious concern.
“It’s only going to get worse… the two weeks before Thanksgiving, you’re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle,” Duffy said.
He emphasized the importance of resolving the shutdown quickly, stating, “We have a number of people who want to get home for the holidays. They want to see their family… Listen, many of them are not going to be able to get on an airplane because there are not going to be that many flights that fly if this thing doesn’t open back up.”
Already, the effects are being felt. As of Sunday morning, over 4,200 flights have been delayed, and 1,520 have been canceled in response to the FAA’s directives.
The Secretary reiterated the commitment to safety, saying, “We’re working overtime to make sure that it is safe to travel.”
He explained that “staffing triggers,” which occur when schedule changes are made due to staffing shortages, have been increasing. On Saturday, there were 81 such triggers, with reports indicating that a significant number of controllers in Atlanta did not report for duty.
“The problem is that as I try to reduce the pressure by lowering flights, I have more controllers that keep not coming to work. And so the pressure goes back up again,” Duffy explained.
This situation underscores the importance of responsible governance and the need for elected officials to come together to find solutions that prevent disruptions to essential services. The government shutdown is not just an abstract political issue; it has real-world consequences for everyday Americans, especially during important times like the Thanksgiving holiday. Resolving the shutdown is crucial to ensuring that families can celebrate together and that the nation’s air travel system can operate smoothly and safely.
