🔗 Share this article

Amid the record-breaking federal government closure approaches day 38, US airspace are set to become somewhat quieter. This doesn't apply for US airports.

Protective Actions Enacted

Donald Trump’s aviation regulatory body announced air travel is being curtailed to uphold air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, currently the lengthiest in history and with no apparent progress of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget deadlock.

Aviation authorities identified “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic must be reduced by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a move that would force airlines to call off thousands of journeys and create a series of scheduling complications and hold-ups at key American travel hubs.

Official Statement

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, commented on online platforms Thursday that the action was “not about politics” but rather “about assessing the data and reducing growing safety concerns in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” Duffy remarked.

Flight Cancellations

Analysts forecast hundreds or even thousands of flights might be called off. The cuts could represent as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats collectively, based on an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The involved terminals including over 25 states include the highest-volume locations across the US – including Georgia's capital, North Carolina's city, DEN, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, LAX, Miami and SFO. In some of the biggest cities – like NYC, Houston and Chicago – several air terminals will be affected.

All three airports operating in the nation's capital region – Dulles Airport, Baltimore/Washington international and Reagan National – will be impacted, likely creating delays and cancellations for lawmakers as well as the flying public.

Additional Developments

• Here’s the compilation of American air terminals reducing air travel on Friday because of federal government shutdown.
• A previous justice department staffer who hurled a sandwich at a federal agent during Donald Trump’s law enforcement presence in the capital was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal rejection of the federal involvement.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers saw Tuesday’s significant election victories as evidence they should hold the line and secure the best deal from Republicans before agreeing to end the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “symbol” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, subsequent to her declaration that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she plans to retire.
• The thinktank head, the director of the conservative thinktank behind Project 2025, issued an apology for backing Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler supporter Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to resign.