Shutdown USA: 10% cut in domestic flights, but international connections remain unaffected

Due to the air traffic control staff crisis, the United States is reducing flight capacity in 40 domestic markets. The longest government shutdown in history is crippling air traffic, while international routes remain untouched.

The United States is preparing to reduce domestic flight capacity by 10% in 40 high-volume markets in an effort to ease pressure on air traffic controllers and airport infrastructure strained by the government shutdown — the longest in American history.

The announcement came from Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford, who confirmed that the measures will begin on Friday. The reductions will be gradual: –4% of flights on Friday, –5% on Saturday, reaching 10% by the following week. International flights, however, will not be affected.

According to analytics agency Cirium, the cut could translate into more than 1,800 canceled flights if the 40 busiest airports in the country are impacted. United Airlines has already announced that reductions will focus on regional routes and connections between smaller airports, in order to preserve major routes.

The decision aims to ensure air traffic safety, as the shortage of controllers — forced to work without pay since October 1 — is causing increasingly severe delays. At some airports, delays have exceeded 50%, compared to a usual average of 5%.

President Donald Trump has blamed the disruptions on the Democrats, accusing them of “leaving thousands of travelers stranded in airports” for refusing to negotiate an end to the crisis.

Meanwhile, millions of passengers continue to face cancellations and delays, as the American sky slowly empties — a victim of a political conflict that has put the entire civil aviation system on hold.

Andrea Pelucchi