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As the historic federal government standoff stretches toward day 38, US airspace will become somewhat quieter. The same cannot be said for US air travel hubs.

Protective Actions Enacted

Donald Trump’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced flights are being reduced to ensure air traffic control safety during the federal government closure, setting a new duration record and with no apparent progress of a agreement between Republicans and liberal officials to end the federal budget impasse.

Airline regulators pinpointed “high-volume markets” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by 6am ET on Friday, a step requiring airlines to call off thousands of journeys and trigger a chain reaction of scheduling problems and delays at key American travel hubs.

Administration Remarks

The federal transportation leader, Sean Duffy, stated on social media Thursday that the move was “not about politics” but rather “about assessing the data and alleviating growing safety concerns in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking,” Duffy stated.

Flight Cancellations

Analysts forecast hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. The flight decreases could represent up to 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, per an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The targeted air hubs covering over 25 states include the busiest ones across the US – featuring Georgia's capital, Charlotte, DEN, Texas metroplex, Florida destination, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. Within major metropolitan areas – including NYC, Texas city and Illinois hub – several air terminals will be affected.

The trio of airports serving the DC metro – IAD, BWI Airport and DCA – will be impacted, certainly generating schedule changes for government officials as well as the flying public.

Related Updates

• Here’s the list of US airports reducing air travel on Friday as a result of federal government closure.
• An ex-DOJ worker who hurled a sandwich at a government officer during the administration's law enforcement surge in DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday representing a recent legal rejection of the federal action.
• Several liberal representatives saw Tuesday’s major voting successes as proof they should maintain their position and extract as much as possible from Republicans before agreeing to end the longest government shutdown in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, following her announcement that following two decades in Congress she will leave office.
• The conservative leader, the chief of the conservative thinktank behind the conservative initiative, expressed regret for supporting the host's interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is declining demands to resign.