Major US Airline Appeals to White House Amid Travel Chaos
American Airlines, the largest carrier in the United States, has issued a direct appeal to the Trump administration as a planned 10% reduction in flight capacity threatens to cause widespread disruption for passengers. The cuts are scheduled to begin on Friday, November 7, at 40 of the country's busiest airports.
Unprecedented Shutdown Forces Drastic Measures
This drastic action stems from the ongoing US government shutdown, which began on October 1 and has now reached its 36th day, making it the longest in American history. The impasse between Democrats and Republicans over federal funding has left approximately 1.4 million federal workers, including air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, working without pay or on forced leave.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the air traffic cuts are intended to "alleviate pressure" on air traffic controllers who have been working without compensation. In a stark warning, he indicated that the cuts could be reversed if Democrats agreed to reopen the government.
Gradual Implementation and Passenger Impact
The flight reductions will be implemented gradually, starting with 4% of domestic flights on Friday, November 7. This will increase to 5% on Saturday and 6% on Sunday, before reaching the full 10% next week. While American Airlines expects the "vast majority" of its customers' travel to be unaffected and has assured no disruption to long-haul international flights, the move could still force hundreds of thousands of travellers to rebook and change their plans.
FAA chief Bryan Bedford described the planned flight reductions as "unusual", noting that the situation was as unprecedented as the shutdown itself and the fact that controllers have gone unpaid for over a month.
Airline's Response and Passenger Guidance
In a statement to Metro, an American Airlines spokesperson said, "We continue to urge leaders in Washington to reach an immediate resolution to end the shutdown. We remain grateful to the air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and other federal employees who are working right now without pay — all to get our customers where they need to be safely."
The airline has pledged to contact all affected passengers directly. It has also promised that anyone whose flight is cancelled, or who chooses not to travel on the affected dates, will receive a refund or be able to reschedule their booking. All passengers are encouraged to check their flight status via the American Airlines website or mobile app.
US officials are expected to release the full list of the 40 high-traffic airports affected on Thursday, November 6.
