Washington: The U.S. government has mandated a 10% reduction in flights at major airports across the nation, attributing the decision to safety concerns related to air traffic control as the federal government shutdown progresses towards becoming the longest in history.

According to Thai News Agency, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the directive yesterday, affecting 40 major airports nationwide. The reduction aims to address safety issues arising from the ongoing shutdown’s impact on air traffic controllers. Duffy indicated that the order could be revoked if an agreement is reached with Democrats to end the shutdown.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has informed major airlines that the reduction will commence with a phased approach: 4% on Fridays, 5% on Saturdays, 6% on Sundays, and reaching 10% by next week. Notably, international flights are exempt from these reductions.

While the government has not specified which airports are included, aviation analyst Cirium suggests the 30 busiest airports could be affected, potentially leading to a reduction of up to 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 passenger seats. The FAA is anticipated to make an official announcement later today.

The shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025, has resulted in a severe shortage of air traffic controllers, with about 3,500 positions vacant. This shortage has forced many controllers to work overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown began. Currently, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA employees are working without pay, affecting at least 3.2 million travelers due to delays caused by the shortage.