The US Department of Transport on Tuesday, Sept. 30 shared its plans to furlough over 11,300 employees at the Federal Aviation Administration, if government funding lapsed. These plans and the lapse of funding could significantly impact efficiency across US airports, industry experts and airlines have warned.
Furlough plans amid shutdown
The Federal Aviation Administration or the FAA had around 44,829 employees on board prior to the introduction of the US Department of Transportation’s plans. The plans would see around 11,322 employees being furloughed. Around 13,294 air traffic controllers are expected to continue working during the shutdown, but without pay.
The department also said that activities such as air traffic controller hiring and their field training, maintenance and operation of navigational aids and other facilities, including support to reimbursable activities of the Department of Defence and Department of Homeland Security activities; field inspections for flight standards, airworthiness directives and airmen medical certifications, among few other critical activities are expected to continue without lapse.
The US government faced a shutdown, beginning on Sept. 30. The US Congress stood at an impasse after lawmakers and the government led by US President Donald Trump could not agree on the federal budget.
FAA furlough impact
The furlough is expected to impact commercial aviation across the country, with airlines warning of delays and disruptions. Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines, among others, have warned that the potential funding lapse could significantly impact efficiency.
Industry Association Airlines for America, in a statement, said:
“This shutdown threat is coming at a critical moment—on the heels of Congress approving $12.5 billion to modernize the FAA’s antiquated air traffic control system; amid the DOT’s “supercharging” hiring to get air traffic control facilities fully staffed; and the TSA reporting record numbers of travellers through checkpoints.”
The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), in its statement, said that the shutdown threatens the stability of the global aviation system. It said:
“The staffing shortages and safety setbacks caused by past government shutdowns were unacceptable, and to maintain the highest safety standards, uninterrupted funding to sustain the system that safely moves 2.9 million passengers and 59,000 tons of cargo every day are the necessary path forward.”
According to the U.S. Travel Association, the shutdown could cost the American travel economy around $1 billion a week. The association’s President and CEO, Geoff Freeman, said:
“The longer a shutdown drags on, the more likely we are to see longer TSA lines, flight delays and cancellations, national parks in disrepair and unnecessary delays in modernising travel infrastructure. Nearly nine in 10 Americans agree Congress should work together to prevent a shutdown. Americans deserve better—lawmakers must act before October 1 to keep our government funded and protect jobs, travellers and our economy.”
The impact and the length of the shutdown are yet to be determined.
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