Flight Reductions hit California Airports Amidst Ongoing Government Shutdown
LOS ANGELES – Travelers flying out of five major California airports should expect disruptions as flight reductions begin Friday due to increasing pressures on air traffic control staffing stemming from the ongoing government shutdown. Airlines are urging passengers to verify thier flight status directly with their carriers, as up to 1,800 flights nationwide could be impacted daily.
The cuts are a proactive measure taken by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to mitigate potential safety risks. FAA Acting Administrator Robert Bedford and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cited increased staffing pressures and reports of growing fatigue among air traffic controllers as the driving forces behind the decision. The move aims to prevent a crisis situation as the shutdown-now the longest in U.S. history-continues with no immediate resolution in sight between democrats and Republicans over health care subsidies.
“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,” Bedford stated. “The system is extremely safe today and will be extremely safe tomorrow. If the pressures continue to build even after we take these measures, we’ll come back and take additional measures.”
Airports expected to experience reductions include Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Diego International Airport (SAN), Oakland International Airport (OAK), and Sacramento International Airport (SMF). While specific numbers for each airport haven’t been released, airlines are working to minimize disruptions and re-accommodate passengers where possible.
The FAA is closely monitoring the situation and will implement further measures if necessary to maintain the safety of the national airspace system. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
