The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has warned that the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) announced 10% reduction in flight capacity ats 40 major US airports will deepen the disruption already being felt across the aviation sector as the federal government shutdown enters its 37th day. It said the FAA has not yet released the list of airports or detailed how the reductions will be applied, leaving the air cargo industry without the means to mitigate its impact.
It warned that essential federal employees, including air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers wer already missing paychecks and that staff shortages will continue to mount.
AfA urged Congress and the President to end the shutdown immediately, pay essential federal workers, and provide clarity on the scope and implications of the FAA’s planned flight reductions.
