🔗 Share this article

With the record-breaking federal government closure nears day 38, US skies is about to get a little less busy. The same cannot be said for US air travel hubs.

Safety Measures Enacted

The federal aviation regulatory body has said flight numbers are being lowered to ensure air traffic control operational integrity during the federal government closure, setting a new duration record and with no sign of a agreement between Republicans and Democrats to end the federal budget impasse.

Aviation authorities identified “busiest routes” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a move that would force airlines to cancel thousands of flights and cause a cascade of scheduling problems and delays at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Administration Remarks

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, commented on social media Thursday that the action was “not politically driven” but rather “involving evaluation the data and reducing building risk in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“It’s safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the preventive measures we are taking,” Duffy remarked.

Airline Cutbacks

Specialists anticipate numerous potentially thousands of flights could be canceled. These reductions may constitute approximately 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats combined, per an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The targeted air hubs including over 25 states include the busiest ones across the US – featuring ATL, CLT, Colorado's hub, Texas metroplex, Florida destination, California gateway, MIA and San Francisco. Among key urban centers – like New York, Houston and Illinois hub – various airports will be impacted.

Each of the three air terminals operating in the Washington DC area – Washington Dulles international, Baltimore/Washington international and Reagan National – will be impacted, certainly generating flight disruptions for government officials as well as other travelers.

Additional Developments

• This is the roster of domestic airports cutting flights on Friday due to federal government closure.
• A former Department of Justice employee who tossed food at a government officer during the administration's law enforcement presence in DC was acquitted of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal setback of the federal action.
• Some Democratic legislators viewed Tuesday’s significant election victories as evidence they should hold the line and secure the best deal from GOP members before agreeing to end the record-breaking budget standoff in history.
• Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, subsequent to her announcement that following two decades in Congress she plans to retire.
• Kevin Roberts, the chief of the political research group behind the policy blueprint, has apologized for backing Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler fan Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to resign.