(NEXSTAR) — The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets beginning Friday morning as long as the government shutdown continues.
The agency didn’t immediately say which 40 markets would be impacted, but said the decisions were “data based” and intended to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers.
The agency is confronting staffing shortages caused by air traffic controllers, who are working unpaid, with some calling out of work during the shutdown, resulting in delays across the country. The cuts were expected to impact commercial, private and space travel.
“I anticipate there will be additional disruptions,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. “There will be frustration. We are working with the airlines, they are going to work with passengers, but in the end our sole role is to keep this airspace as safe as possible.”
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency is not going to wait for a problem to act, saying the shutdown is causing staffing pressures and “we can’t ignore it.”
Bedford and Duffy said they will meet later Wednesday with airline leaders to figure out how to safely implement the reduction.
More information on which airports will be impacted was expected to be released on Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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