US airlines cancel flights after aviation agency directive to cut air traffic

United, Southwest, and Delta airlines are canceling flights beginning Friday in response to a directive from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reduce air traffic at 40 major airports. These reductions are intended to address safety concerns stemming from a shortage of air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay during an ongoing federal government shutdown. The FAA identified high-volume markets where air traffic must be reduced to maintain safety. Delta announced it will cancel 170 flights on Friday and fewer on Saturday, Southwest plans to cancel 120 flights for Friday, and United will cut approximately 4% of its flights from Friday through Sunday. These cancellations are expected to impact thousands of flights across some of the nation's busiest airports, including those in Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, and the Washington D.C. area. The FAA stated that international flights are not subject to these cuts. The FAA's directive comes as the federal government shutdown, now in its 37th day, has left air traffic controllers working unpaid. Many controllers have expressed that they cannot manage missing two paychecks. The reductions aim to alleviate pressure on the aviation system, with FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasizing th... download the app to read more