Air traffic in the United States will be reduced by 10% at 40 of its major airports starting this Friday due to system overload caused by the increasing number of air traffic controllers on leave as a result of the federal government shutdown, now in its 36th day. The flight restrictions will affect some of the country's busiest airports, including those in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington, according to CBS. For now, international flights are exempt from the capacity cuts. The limitations on air traffic are increasing pressure on Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill to negotiate an end to the government shutdown.

Many travelers still don't know if their flight will be canceled with just 24 hours to go before the cuts to air capacity, announced last Wednesday by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Director Bryan Bedford, take effect.

The details provided by Duffy and Bedford are scarce and vague. Officials familiar with the negotiations have cautioned that nothing is final until the official order is published, according to Bloomberg.

Up to 1,800 flights could be affected on Friday alone, according to Cirium, an aviation data provider. The final number will depend on the airports affected and how the flight capacity cuts are implemented. The reduction in flights will be gradual. It will begin with 4% this Friday and increase to the announced 10% starting next week, according to Reuters.

The cut in air traffic will force the country's major airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Southwest and United Airlines, to reduce their total seat capacity by 6%, according to Bloomberg.

“We anticipate that travel for the vast majority of our customers will not be affected, and long-haul international flights will continue as scheduled,” American Airlines said in a statement. “As schedule changes occur, we will proactively contact customers,” it added.

The already stressed aviation sector is now on the brink of collapse due to the government shutdown, which has left thousands of air traffic controllers without pay. These officials are being forced to miss work because they need other jobs to provide income to pay their mortgages, their children's school fees, or for food, Duffy explained last week.

The Secretary of Transportation explained that more than 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay since October 1, when the shutdown began. Many controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers are taking sick leave. The government shutdown is putting even more strain on an already stressed air traffic control system, with thousands of controller positions vacant and an overwhelming workload.

Pressure to negotiate an end to the government shutdown

Air traffic restrictions are putting pressure on negotiations to end the budget impasse, which is already the longest in history. The government shutdown has forced dozens of federal agencies to close or reduce their operations to a minimum due to a lack of resources and the absence of an agreement between Republicans and Democrats. Negotiations between the two parties continue with no sign of an imminent agreement, despite the threat of thousands of flight cancellations this Friday.

Although some centrist Democrats are trying to reach an agreement to end the administrative gridlock, many senators, encouraged by their electoral victory in New York, Virginia, and New Jersey last Tuesday, are determined to persist in their position to try to achieve a victory against the Republicans on health care, where they intend to cut spending.

Sources familiar with the negotiations believe an agreement will not be reached for another two weeks, just before Thanksgiving, one of the country's most popular holidays, when thousands of people travel to be with their families. Forecasts predict record travel within the United States during this period.

The reduction in air traffic during the government shutdown is reminiscent of January 2019, when, after 35 days of government closure, the Senate decided to unblock the situation following the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) announcement to limit flights at several airports due to the risk of collapse caused by the increase in air traffic controller absences.

The government shutdown is also affecting the Trump administration. The US president has blamed the budget impasse for the electoral setback suffered last Tuesday. And he has urged Republicans to eliminate the filibuster, the rule that allows bills to be delayed in the Senate until a 60-vote majority is reached.

“Democrats are far more likely to win the midterm and upcoming presidential elections if we do not eliminate congressional obstruction (the nuclear option!), because it will be impossible for Republicans to pass common-sense policies with these fanatical Democrats blocking everything by withholding their votes. FOR THREE YEARS, NOTHING WILL PASS AND THE REPUBLICANS WILL BE BLAME. The elections, including the midterms, will rightfully be brutal,” Trump wrote on his social media account, Truth.

But Republicans are hesitant to repeal that rule because they fear the consequences if Democrats gain a majority in the Senate, allowing them to pass any legislation without negotiation. Recent polls give the Democratic Party a slight advantage in the midterm elections next year, which could potentially curtail Trump's power.