Duffy announces 10% reduction in flights at 40 locations due to air traffic controller shortage amid shutdown

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a 10% reduction in flights at 40 locations due to the government shutdown, placing pressure on thinly stretched air traffic controllers.

In a Wednesday press conference, Duffy spoke of the difficulties being experienced by U.S. aviation due to the government shutdown, particularly the strain on air traffic controllers. The vital personnel have been required to work without pay, forcing the Department of Transportation to take desperate measures.

“I anticipate there will be additional disruptions, there will be frustration. We are working with the airlines. They’re going to work with passengers, but in the end, our sole role is to make sure that we keep this airspace as safe as possible,” Duffy said. “The administrator is going to talk about all of the tools we’re going to deploy. One of them, though, is going to be that there is going to be a 10% reduction in capacity at 40 of our locations.”