Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group, explains how the shutdown could impact holiday flights and what passengers can do to anticipate disruptions.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency order Wednesday evening freezing flight reductions at 6% amid a “rapid decline” in air traffic controller interventions.
The flight reductions were initially implemented as airports and air traffic control towers suffered significant staffing shortages caused by the government shutdown, which President Donald Trump officially ended Wednesday evening.
The order from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford says staffing levels have improved, as there were only four staffing triggers on Wednesday, compared to 81 on Nov. 8.
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The DOT and FAA issued an emergency order freezing flight reductions at 6% amid improving controller staffing levels as the government reopens after a 43-day shutdown. (WANG Zhao/AFP/Getty Images)
“Such high staffing levels suggest that further acceleration of flight staffing reductions is not necessary to ensure the safety of the traveling public. As the federal government reopens and controllers receive back pay, the FAA will continue to monitor staffing levels and examine key trends,” the order states.
The 6% freeze will remain in effect until the FAA can confirm it is safe to resume normal operations.
“The FAA safety team is encouraged by our increased air traffic control workforce, and they feel comfortable with the idea of pausing the reduction program to give us time to review the airspace,” Duffy said, adding that “the safety of the American people comes first.”
Bedford echoed those sentiments, saying the FAA’s top priority “is and always will be safety.”
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Calls from air traffic controllers have decreased significantly over the past week, leading to a smaller freeze on flight reductions, according to the DOT and FAA. (Mario Tama/Getty Images/Getty Images)
“The data shows that controller staffing is improving rapidly, allowing us to maintain the reduction in flights at 6% while maintaining the highest levels of safety in our airspace,” Bedford said. “We will continue to monitor system performance hour by hour and will not hesitate to make further adjustments if necessary.”
The new order indicates that the list of 40 affected high-impact airports, published last week, remains unchanged.
Nationwide air traffic control was significantly affected by the 43-day government shutdown, with controllers working without pay for weeks in an already stressful environment and with reduced staff.
Duffy said the president’s message to air traffic controllers that they “will get well quickly” was “heard loud and clear.”
Air traffic controllers were among many federal employees who worked without pay during the 43-day government shutdown. (REUTERS/Bob Riha, Jr/File Photo/File Photo / Reuters)
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Trump suggested that controllers who worked hands-on during the government shutdown should receive a $10,000 bonus for their service to the country.
“For those air traffic controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS and took NO TIME OFF for the ‘Democratic Shutdown Hoax,’ I will recommend a $10,000 BONUS per person for distinguished service to our country,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“For those who just complained and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid FULLY, in the near future, I am NOT SATISFIED WITH YOU,” the president added.
