Summary
Hundreds of flights in the United States have been canceled because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a 10% reduction in air traffic at major airports. This decision is due to a shortage of air traffic controllers working without pay during the ongoing government shutdown. The reduction aims to ensure safety despite the shortage.
Key Facts
- The FAA ordered a 10% cut in air traffic at the 40 largest U.S. airports.
- Over 790 flights were canceled on Friday, with more expected in the following days.
- The flight cancellations occurred due to a shortage of air traffic controllers caused by the government shutdown.
- Air traffic controllers have been working without pay, leading to safety concerns.
- U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated the cancellations were a safety measure, not political.
- The phased cuts to air traffic will increase to 10% by November 14.
- Major affected airports include Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta and JFK in New York.
- More than 14,000 air traffic controllers, deemed essential, have worked without pay for weeks.
