Air travel across the United States is bracing for major disruption beginning Friday morning, as the federal government prepares to cut flights by 10% in 40 of the nation’s largest cities. The move comes amid the continuing government shutdown, which has paralyzed key federal operations and left millions of travelers facing delays and cancellations.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced the sweeping reductions on Wednesday, explaining that air traffic staffing will be reduced until the shutdown is resolved. The decision, they said, will impact not only commercial airline routes but also private aviation and even space launches.
Despite the scale of the cutbacks, Bedford insisted that the nation’s aviation network remains secure. “The system is extremely safe today. Will be extremely safe tomorrow,” he stated, emphasizing that flight safety standards will not be compromised even as operations are scaled back.
{Matzav.com}
