Americans Aggravated

Flights Cancel Across the U.S

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Due to the prolonged government shutdown, there is a staffing shortage of air traffic controllers, who coordinate the movement of aircraft.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reduced air traffic by 10% in 40 major airports across the country in an attempt to increase safety by lessening pressure on air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay since the shutdown began. At least 20% of controllers are not showing up to work while those still working are having to handle extended work hours. 

This has resulted in thousands of flight disruptions, impacting more than 3.2 million Americans. Cancellations and refunds are rampant, causing major airlines to urge for the shutdown to end as their stock plummets.

“We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said.

Reducing air traffic is supposed to be a temporary solution to reduced air traffic control from the shutdown continuing.