The aviation sector was by and far the most impacted by the U.S. government’s longest shutdown in history. Thousands of flights were canceled or delayed due to the workers shortage that emerged because of nonpayment. About 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents were asked to continue reporting to work without pay while the government remained closed, many of whom misused sick leave to refuse unpaid work.
At least 35 air traffic control points in the U.S. experienced staffing shortfalls during this time, including facilities in Austin, Phoenix, New York, Newark, Nashville, Washington, Denver, and Dallas. Between 20% and 40% of air traffic controllers were absent daily at the 30 busiest U.S. airports.
On November 7, staff shortages led the FAA to introduce flight capacity reduction measures reaching 6% of daily scheduled operations at 40 major U.S. airports, cutting thousands of daily scheduled flights.
This concerns only domestic flights scheduled between 6:00 and 22:00 local time at airports critical for passenger and air freight operations, including, but not limited to, Chicago O’Hare International, Dallas-Fort Worth International, Denver International, George Bush Houston Intercontinental, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Los Angeles International, Miami International, New York LaGuardia, New York John F. Kennedy International,
Newark Liberty International, Philadelphia International, Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, San Diego International, San Francisco International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Washington Dulles International airports.
FAA Halts Further Flight Reductions but Initial Reduction Policy Remains
The FAA had initial plans to gradually decrease the percentage of scheduled flights across the U.S. but has since decided to halt further reductions following the reopening of the government.
However, the 6% reduction policy will remain in effect until authorities deem staffing levels are stabilized enough to safely return to full operational capacity.
On November 13, more than 1,000 cancellations and 2,400 flight delays were reported across the country, including at Chicago O’Hare International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Denver International Airport, San Francisco International, and New York LaGuardia airports. American Airlines and Delta Airlines, the airlines most affected by the FAA flight cuts, have announced that they will not yet resume normal flight volumes as they work through backlogs from delays and operational bottlenecks.
Everstream clients are receiving more detailed insights and recommendations about this risk.
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