Shutdown Poses Operational Implications For Air Travel

Axios reports:

Even a relatively brief government shutdown could exacerbate an ongoing air traffic controller shortage, with potentially serious operational and safety implications.

Air travel is skyrocketing post-pandemic — the Federal Aviation Administration predicts more than 54,200 flights next Thursday, Oct. 5, ahead of the holiday weekend, which would make it the busiest travel day of the year so far.

That’s a lot of airplanes straining a system suffering from significant air traffic controller shortages. Many of the country’s most critical air traffic control facilities — like Westbury, New York’s vital New York approach — remain stubbornly below FAA staffing targets.

Read the full article.

The U.S. air travel system could show significant signs of stress in the event of a federal government shutdown. https://t.co/JnKNqm2bdd

— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 28, 2023