US travel woes mount as govt shutdown prompts flight cuts

Travellers faced mounting uncertainty over air travel in the US after a directive to decrease flights at dozens of major airports went into effect on Nov 7.

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The reduction has been touted as a solution to overcome air traffic safety concerns related to staff shortages linked to the record-length government shutdown that has dragged on for six weeks.

The Trump administration ordered airlines to decrease flights at 40 airports, including several major hubs, beginning on Nov 7, with a 4 per cent reduction that is set to gradually increase to 10 per cent next week.

Flight reductions are set to hit some of the country’s busiest airports, including in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

“This isn’t about politics. It is about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, pushing back against criticism that the order aims to increase pressure on Democrats to end the shutdown.

The government shutdown, which began on Oct 1 and is now the longest in history, has left tens of thousands of air traffic controllers, airport security staff and others without pay.