Operational Updates - Scheduled flight reductions into the top 40 airports reduced by 6% today [1] - Scheduled flight reductions will further decrease to 3% starting at 6:00 a m tomorrow morning [1] - Improved staffing with air traffic controllers is the reason for the reduction in flight cuts [1]

Potential Travel Disruptions - The Trump administration warned of potential airline cancellations this weekend and Thanksgiving travel risks if the government shutdown continues [1] - Transportation Secretary Shawn Duffy indicated aviation risk levels have risen during the shutdown, citing runway incursions, loss of separation in airspace, and pilot communication complaints [2] - The FAA ordered airlines to cancel 6% of flights today, affecting over 12,200 flights, with the 40 busiest airports being the most impacted [2] Airline Industry Concerns - Airlines anticipate carrying 31 million people over Thanksgiving, but warn reduced flight schedules cannot immediately return to full capacity after the government reopens [4] - Airlines are indicating it will take a couple of days to resume normal operations after receiving the green light from the FAA [5] Air Traffic Controller Impact - The President threatened to dock the pay of controllers who have not come to work [4] - Air traffic controllers will receive 70% of their back pay within 48 hours, with the remainder within approximately one week [6]

Government Shutdown Impact - The Federal Aviation Administration reduced air traffic by 10% at 40 airports across the country due to the government shutdown [1] - The airline industry analyst believes that restoring schedules to normal could be done in a couple of days, with cuts to operations currently well below 10% [2] - Airlines are likely to cut the least profitable operations, potentially smaller aircraft, and the cuts observed were around 4-5% [4][5] - A prolonged government shutdown could lead to air traffic controllers being unwilling to pick up additional shifts, impacting the air traffic control system [6] Thanksgiving Travel - Leisure travelers typically book flights 50-56 days before travel, suggesting most Thanksgiving tickets are already purchased [8] - Business travel typically slows down after the first week of November until after Thanksgiving [9] - Air travel volumes are expected to be up 4-5% compared to last year, in line with supply additions from US carriers [11] - A continued government shutdown could create a mess during the Thanksgiving travel crunch, potentially leading to airlines owing credits for cancelled flights [11][12] Future Concerns - The airline industry is somewhat at the mercy of the situation, with the shutdown occurring during non-peak seasons (4Q and 1Q) [14] - The next major concern for airlines is getting into March, specifically spring break and late February [15]

Industry Impact of Government Shutdown - The reckless government shutdown is making the job of ensuring passenger safety and security more difficult and dangerous [2] - The aviation industry's morale is low due to tragedies, poor decisions, and problematic policies since the beginning of the year [4] - Capacity cuts are tasking carriers with creating a new jigsaw puzzle for routes and crew placement, leading to inconsistency and logistical concerns [7][8] - Flight attendants are experiencing schedule changes at the last minute, impacting their ability to plan for the future [10] - The industry expresses solidarity with TSA agents and air traffic controllers who are not being paid during the shutdown [2][11] Safety and Security Concerns - The primary responsibility of crew members is to ensure the safety and security of passengers [1] - Aviation travel is still the safest form of travel in the United States, but this reality may be eroded [6] - Flights are operating at 98% capacity on average, highlighting safety and security concerns [12] - Incidents of conflict on flights are increasing, though not yet at COVID levels, due to cascading delays [15] Advocacy and Congressional Relations - The Association of Professional Flight Attendants represents 28,000 colleagues [1] - The industry is urging lawmakers to reopen the government, emphasizing safety and security concerns [12] - There is hope for a bipartisan resolution that does not strip away access to affordable healthcare [14]

Impact of Government Shutdown on Aviation Safety - The government shutdown is impacting aviation safety due to immense pressure and fatigue on air traffic controllers, documented by the FAA [5] - Schedule reductions are necessary for safety, not a political choice [5][6] - The current pace of government action is too slow compared to the speed of air travel, requiring immediate rectification [6] Flight Disruptions and Passenger Impact - American Airlines canceled 221 flights to comply with FAA direction, primarily affecting smaller, regional aircraft (97%) [7] - Airlines are trying to minimize the impact, but even removing smaller planes affects passengers needing critical care [8] - While the airline aims to decrease the impact of flight cancellations, if it's your flight, it's 100% of your day [8][9] - Flight cancellations are projected to increase exponentially, reaching 6% by Tuesday, 8% by Thursday, and 10% by Friday, potentially affecting larger airplanes [11] Calls for Action - The Allied Pilots Association urges immediate government action to resolve the shutdown and address the aviation crisis [9][12] - The shutdown will cause financial problems for airlines due to canceled flights [13]

Flight Disruptions - The FAA ordered a 10% cut to flight capacity at 40 high volume markets to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers [1] - Approximately 3% of US flights are canceled [2] - The cancellation rate is still below the typical 4 to 5% during a bad winter storm [2] Government Shutdown Impact - Air traffic controllers and TSA agents have not been paid for more than 5 weeks due to the government shutdown that began on October 1st [2][3] - The resumption of payments depends on a consensus in Washington regarding major issues, including healthcare subsidies [3]

Industry Impact - US transportation officials plan to throttle commercial air traffic starting Friday due to the government shutdown [1] - Airlines and travelers are reviewing flight plans in response to the planned air traffic throttling [1]

Air Traffic Control Crisis - FAA to cut flights by 10% at the nation's 40 busiest airports due to air traffic controllers fatigue and sick calls [1] - Air traffic controllers are stressed and fatigued due to the government shutdown and uncertainty about pay [2] - The shutdown is expected to delay controllers receiving owed pay for months, even after it ends [3] - Reducing airspace capacity is necessary to manage increased risk in the aviation system [5] Safety and Workforce Concerns - It is absolutely safe to fly [6] - The current situation is discouraging potential air traffic controllers from pursuing the profession [9] - There is a shortage of 3,800 air traffic controllers, with 10,800 certified controllers operating a system designed for 14,633 [10] - Air traffic controllers are resigning due to the shutdown, exacerbating the existing shortage [11]

FAA Flight Reduction Impact - FAA is ordering an unprecedented 10% cut in flights at major airports due to the shutdown [1] - Smaller airports are expected to feel the biggest impact from the flight cutbacks [2] - Airlines may reduce flights to smaller cities from three to one to cut down on flight volume [3][4] - Larger aircraft are mostly exempt from these cutbacks [5] - Airline executives will meet with the FAA and DOT to plan the changes [5] Air Traffic Controller Situation - Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since October 1st [6] - Some air traffic controllers are not showing up for work due to financial difficulties [7] - The vast majority of air traffic controllers are continuing to show up and do their jobs [8]

Operational Disruptions - Significant flight disruptions occurred at US airports due to staffing shortages [1] - Over 5,000 flights to and from US airports were delayed on a single Sunday [1] - Air traffic control facilities reported a fourfold increase in staffing shortages compared to the previous year [1] - TSA checkpoint wait times at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport exceeded three hours, with some passengers waiting up to five hours [2] - Security wait times at William P Hobby Airport in Texas routinely exceeded one hour [2] Workforce Impact - More than 13,000 air traffic controllers are working without pay [2] - Air traffic controllers are missing their second paycheck [2]