Airlines Brace for Another Round of Flight Cuts Even if the Shutdown Ends

The longest federal government shutdown in history is finally coming to a close… but the aviation industry is taking its time to bounce back. Airlines are getting ready to shoulder thousands more flight delays and cancellations as the President himself takes to threatening air traffic controllers with pay cuts.

The FAA’s game plan involved an initial 4 percent flight reduction at 40 major airports, incrementally working its way up to 10 percent. On the first day, 2,200 flights were canceled and several thousand more were impacted due to aircraft and crews stranded out of position. This means that even if all controllers immediately resumed work, it would take the airlines time to re-situate their fleets and get flights back on track.

President Donald Trump fueled the controversy by publicly scolding air traffic controllers who had stopped reporting to work, saying he was “NOT HAPPY” with their behavior.

“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked,’” Trump continued. “For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country.”

The comments drew swift backlash from several lawmakers, with Representative Rick Larsen saying they were “nuts” and “unhinged.”

“We should be retaining our most experienced controllers, not slandering them and pushing them to leave their careers early,” added Senator Tammy Duckworth, the ranking member of the Senate’s Aviation Subcommittee.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) also didn’t seem too enthused by the statement, arguing that members are being used as “political pawns” while being plagued by fatigue, stress, and attrition. Since the shutdown began, hundreds of controllers have quit or retired early, with many citing financial hardship after more than a month without pay. Some say that it took more than two months to get backpay in order after the last major shutdown in 2019.

FMI: www.natca.org