U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a warning on Friday, indicating that airlines might have to reduce up to 20% of their flights if the government shutdown persisted. To alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers, airlines have already cut down four percent of domestic flights at 40 major airports, with further reductions to reach 10% by November 14. Secretary Duffy mentioned the possibility of mandating a 20% cut in the future based on airspace data analysis.

The ongoing shutdown, lasting 38 days, has led to challenges as 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been working without pay, resulting in increased absenteeism. The Trump administration is applying pressure on Democrats to agree to a Republican funding plan to reopen the federal government.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, criticized the shutdown’s impact on air travel, highlighting the cancellation of flights just before the holiday season. The flight reductions, affecting around 700 flights from major carriers like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, are expected to increase to six percent by Tuesday. International flights are not included in the cuts.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faced challenges due to air traffic controller absences, causing delays at airports like Atlanta, San Francisco, and Houston among others. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed concerns over potential disruptions if flight reductions escalate further, emphasizing the need to address the issue promptly. United Airlines reported rebooking half of the affected customers within four hours of their original departure time.

Secretary Duffy emphasized that the flight reductions aim to ensure safety, compensating for exhausted and absent air traffic controllers. The FAA has also warned of potential restrictions on space launches and the possibility of cutting general aviation flights by up to 10% at busy airports in case of staffing problems.