🔗 Share this article

With the record-breaking federal government standoff approaches day 38, US skies are set to become somewhat quieter. This doesn't apply for US air travel hubs.

Precautionary Steps Implemented

The federal air traffic agency announced flight numbers are being lowered to uphold air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, currently the lengthiest in history and with no sign of a solution between conservative legislators and liberal officials to end the federal budget impasse.

Airline regulators identified “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a move that would force airlines to cancel thousands of flights and trigger a chain reaction of scheduling problems and hold-ups at key American travel hubs.

Official Statement

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, stated on online platforms Thursday that the action was “not politically driven” but rather “about assessing the data and mitigating growing safety concerns in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” Duffy remarked.

Flight Cancellations

Experts predict hundreds if not thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions could represent approximately 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats collectively, based on an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Targeted Terminals

The affected airports covering numerous states include the most trafficked across the US – including ATL, Charlotte, DEN, Dallas/Fort Worth, MCO, LAX, Florida hotspot and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – like NYC, Houston and Chicago – multiple airports will be involved.

The trio of airports serving the nation's capital region – IAD, Baltimore/Washington international and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be affected, certainly generating schedule changes for government officials as well as the flying public.

Other Developments

• Below is the list of US airports cutting flights on Friday due to federal government closure.
• A former Department of Justice employee who tossed food at a federal officer during the current law enforcement surge in the capital was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rejection of the federal intervention.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers saw Tuesday’s major voting successes as proof they should hold the line and gain maximum concessions from GOP members before consenting to conclude the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her statement that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she plans to retire.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the conservative thinktank behind the policy blueprint, expressed regret for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to step down.