Denver Proposes New Incentives for Airport Staff to Prevent Flight Reductions

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(The Hill) On Thursday, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston unveiled a plan to compensate air traffic controllers during the government shutdown, as they face missed paychecks.

According to Politico, Johnston’s initiative requires approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Denver has requested a special exemption to fund air traffic controllers at the city’s international airport, though a response is still pending.

The Hill sought comments from both Johnston’s office and the FAA. An automated reply from the FAA’s press team indicated it isn’t currently handling media requests, but included a statement from Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.

“Secretary Duffy has noted an uptick in staffing shortages system-wide,” the automated message stated. “In response, the FAA has opted to slow traffic at certain airports to maintain safe operations.”

Denver is among 40 airports across the country that will see their flight capacity reduced by 10% starting Friday, FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said Wednesday.

Johnston told Politico that the airport might be “the largest economic driver in the Rocky Mountain West.” Tourism fuels Colorado’s economy, which supported nearly 190,000 jobs and contributed $28.5 billion to the state’s economy in 2024, according to Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

“It is critical to not just our quality of life, but to our economic health,” he said.

In its request to the FAA, the city also specified that it expects to be reimbursed after the shutdown ends. Johnston admitted to Politico that the risk is the city’s waiver is approved but the FAA could require the airport to operate at reduced capacity.

“We understand there’s some risk,” he said. “We think the greatest risks of all are shutting down the economy by stopping air travel, which is a major economic driver for us.”

Johnston also blamed President Donald Trump for the shutdown and its impact, which is “starting to seep throughout different parts of the city.”

“This would be a crushing blow to the city’s economy that affects not just those that are in greatest need, but everybody who relies on the airport for work or for travel or for leisure,” Johnston told Politico.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Bedford said the FAA’s move to reduce flight capacity is “appropriate to continue to take the pressure off of our controllers.”

“The data is telling us we need to do more, and we are going to do more,” Bedford said. “And I want to reassure the American travelers that it is absolutely safe to fly in the American skies.”

Duffy, who was with Bedford at the same press conference, warned on Tuesday that the Department of Transportation may have to close certain parts of the country’s airspace if the funding lapse persists.