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In the aftermath of the federal shutdown, airlines are hopeful for a swift return to regular schedules at 40 bustling airports. They aim to reinstate normal operations merely days after the government withdraws its directive to reduce flights. However, the timeline for this transition remains uncertain, despite the shutdown’s conclusion.
On Wednesday evening, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a positive development: airlines are no longer required to slash more than 6% of flights at these airports, thanks to a notable improvement in air traffic controller staffing. Originally, the directive, which came into effect last Friday, mandated an increase in flight reductions to 8% by Thursday, escalating to 10% by Friday.
The initial order stemmed from a significant number of air traffic controllers missing work due to unpaid conditions during the shutdown, leading to understaffing in airport towers and regional control centers. This shortage prompted flight cuts out of safety concerns, since even minor absences in certain locations exacerbated the already pressing shortage of thousands of controllers.
As of Thursday morning, the FAA and the Transportation Department had not provided updates on the timeline for lifting the order. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has stated that the decision will hinge on safety data monitored meticulously by FAA experts.
Airlines express readiness to resume normal operations and anticipate achieving this within three to four days once the order is lifted. Nonetheless, some analysts warn that the repercussions might extend longer than anticipated, possibly impacting Thanksgiving travel. This uncertainty makes it challenging to forecast whether airlines can rebound as swiftly as they typically do after disruptions like significant snowstorms that leave aircraft and crews misplaced.
The airlines focused their cuts on smaller regional routes to minimize the impact on their main hubs. By late Thursday morning, about 1,000 flights had been cancelled across the country.
“We are eager to resume normal operations over the next few days once the FAA gives clearance. We look forward to welcoming 31 million passengers—a new record—to our flights during the upcoming Thanksgiving travel period, beginning next Friday,” the Airlines for America trade group said Thursday.
Duffy has said that controllers and other FAA employees should receive 70% of their back pay within 24-48 hours of the end of the shutdown with the rest to come over the next couple paychecks. The financial pressure on controllers drove some of them to seek out side jobs to help make ends meet and call out of work while they dealt with the stress.
Last Saturday, the staff shortages peaked when 81 different FAA facilities warned they were running low on workers, forcing the airlines to cut additional flights. On Thursday morning, the FAA didn’t list any staffing warnings at airports and other radar facilities across the country.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom and Chief Operating Officer David Seymour told employees in a letter Thursday that they are already seeing improvements as controller staffing stabilized over the last day or so even though more flight cuts will be needed until FAA lifts the order. But travelers should already be seeing fewer delays and cancellations on the day of their flights.
The two executives said they believe American Airlines’ planning and efforts to minimize disruptions will help the carrier bounce back fast and “deliver a strong Thanksgiving operation,” noting that millions of travelers “deserve the certainty.”
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