Orlando International Airport has been identified as one of the 40 U.S. airports where flight operations are expected to be reduced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as reported by ClickOrlando. Facing a government shutdown that sparked this move, the affected airports will see a 10% reduction in air traffic, beginning tomorrow morning. The decision aims to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers endure the ongoing strain of the shutdown.
Navigating through a shortage of staff, the FAA oversees more than 44,000 daily flights, and with air traffic controllers working unpaid since the shutdown commenced on October 1, many have been handling six-day work weeks and mandatory overtime, as WFTV details. The agency asserts that the reduced flight volume is a necessary measure to counterbalance the increased workload and decrease potential risks.
As the shutdown persists, air traffic controllers have begun taking second jobs and calling out of work – not having money for child care or gas – which has contributed to delays at several U.S. airports, including MCO last week. Brian Bedford, speaking at a news conference, mentioned the unprecedented nature of these measures, expressing concern for safety in the aviation market's 35-year history he is part of.
“We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating,” Bedford said. This comes after voluntary safety reports from pilots have indicated growing fatigue among air traffic controllers, according to WFTV. Bedford, along with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, decided not to wait until a crisis emerged from these early signs.
Apart from the Orlando hub, airports including Anchorage International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, and other major Florida airports like Miami International and Tampa International are also slated for reduced operations.
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