The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directed airlines last week to reduce 4% of daily flights starting from last Friday, November 7, at 40 major airports due to air traffic control issues. The reduction increased to 6% on Tuesday, and it is expected to reach 8% on Thursday and 10% on Friday, November 14. American media reported that several different options are being discussed regarding how the FAA might end these measures. Since the shutdown began on October 1, these actions have caused cancellations or delays, affecting about 1.2 million travelers over the weekend alone due to the absence of air traffic controllers. According to the website ‘Flight Radar 24,’ more than 1,300 flights were delayed on Tuesday, following the cancellation of 2,900 flights and the delay of 9,600 others on Monday. The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, forced about 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration employees to work without pay. This situation occurred while approximately 3,500 controllers are below the targeted staffing level, forcing many to work extra hours and six-day weeks even before the shutdown began.
