The U.S. airline industry is bracing for potential drastic service reductions as the Federal Aviation Administration enforces cuts during a record-setting government shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of possible 20% flight reductions should the situation worsen.

Initial efforts required airlines to decrease flights by 4% at major airports, potentially reaching a 10% cut by November 14. These reductions, commencing at 6 a.m. ET, affect 700 flights from major carriers like American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and United Airlines. International flights remain unaffected, but domestic operations continue to face challenges due to air traffic controller shortages.

Rising absences among air traffic controllers prompted the FAA to delay numerous flights nationwide, affecting

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