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Flight cancellation updates: FAA’s government shutdown traffic reduction continues

Travelers at LAX as reduced flights begin at major airports amid the enduring federal government shutdown.

Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG

The government shutdown is affecting thousands of travellers across the US, as airports grapple with air traffic controller shortages.

The Federal Aviation Administration has moved to implement a 10% reduction in flights at 40 airports across the country.

That began with a 4% reduction to operations on Friday. It will increase to 10% by November 14.

Around 780 flights had been canceled as of 1 p.m. ET on Friday, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm.

Check back here for the latest updates on Saturday.

Recap

Staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay since the start of October, have grown worse as the government shutdown has stretched on, with increasing numbers calling in sick.

In response, the FAA has moved to reduce flight operations as it works to maintain safety standards despite the shortages.

“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,” FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement this week.

“The FAA will continue to closely monitor operations, and we will not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe.”

Read the original article on Business Insider