US to Cut Air Traffic 10% If No Shutdown Deal

Air Traffic Control Disruption Impact - Airline industry faces potential flight reductions, route cuts, and service disruptions, especially during the holiday season [1] - The FAA shutdown's duration and scale (potential scaling up or down) remain uncertain, posing further risks to air traffic control [2] - Timing of potential capacity cuts is difficult, occurring just weeks before the Thanksgiving travel season [3] - A 10% cut in flights would represent thousands of flights per day in the US, indicating a massive impact [4] Air Traffic Controller Situation - Air traffic controllers not being paid since October 1st is impacting staffing levels [4] - Controllers' second paycheck delay is causing increased absenteeism, further impacting air traffic [5] - Airlines and airports are implementing slowdowns and restrictions due to air traffic controller staffing shortages [6] Safety and FAA Measures - FAA is implementing measures to ensure safety by managing traffic at manageable levels [8] - Prioritizing safety with fewer flights is preferred over having too much air traffic for controllers to manage [9]