Heads up, jet-setters! ✈️ The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) just announced a 10% cut in scheduled flights at 40 major airports starting this Friday. The move comes as the current federal government shutdown drags on, now the longest in U.S. history.
Imagine your favorite MRT line in Singapore or the PNR train in Manila suddenly running fewer rides because the staff aren’t getting paid. Total chaos at the station, right? That’s what U.S. airports are facing now. 😅
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says, “We’re leaning into early indicators to prevent safety hiccups down the line.” In plain English: instead of waiting for delays or safety issues to pile up, they’re preemptively scaling back flights to keep things under control. 👍
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford adds that this systematic 10% capacity drop will help ease pressure on air traffic controllers. And if more staffing triggers pop up in certain markets, extra measures could be on the horizon. 😬
Since the shutdown began, about 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 airport security officers have been working without pay. With many taking leave to cope, staffing shortages have worsened flight delays—and raised fresh safety concerns. 🚨
What does this mean for your travel plans? Expect more cancellations and longer waits. If you’re planning that Bali getaway or booking flights for home during the holidays, keep an eye on flight updates, stay flexible, and leave extra time at the airport. ⏰
Stay tuned and pack your patience—this shutdown saga is far from over! 👀
Reference(s):
U.S. to cut air traffic by 10% at 40 locations as shutdown rumbles on
cgtn.com
