智通财经网·2025-11-06 07:29Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a plan to cut 10% of flights at 40 major airports due to safety concerns stemming from a record 36-day government shutdown, which has left thousands of air traffic controllers and TSA workers working without pay [1][2] Group 1: Impact on Air Traffic and Operations - The government shutdown has led to a shortage of air traffic controllers, causing delays for over 3.2 million passengers [2] - The FAA plans to gradually increase flight capacity reductions from 4% to 10% over the weekend, with international flights excluded from these cuts [2] - The cuts are expected to affect major airports including New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Dallas, potentially reducing up to 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats [2] Group 2: Airline Responses and Strategies - United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby stated that long-haul international flights and hub-to-hub services will remain unaffected, while regional and non-hub domestic flights will be reduced [3] - American Airlines indicated that most passengers would experience minimal impact, while Southwest Airlines is assessing the effects of the cuts on its flight schedule [3] - The flight attendants' union criticized the shutdown as a "brutal attack" on all Americans, emphasizing that the crisis stems from political negotiations [3] Group 3: Broader Implications of the Shutdown - The shutdown has resulted in the loss of food assistance for low-income Americans and the temporary furlough of approximately 750,000 federal employees [5] - Duffy warned that if the shutdown continues for another week, it could lead to "massive chaos" and force the closure of parts of the national airspace [5] - Major airlines have called for an end to the shutdown, citing potential aviation safety risks, with stock prices for airlines like United and American dropping in after-hours trading [5]