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With the unprecedented federal government shutdown stretches toward day 38, US skies are set to become a little less busy. Contrastingly for US terminals.

Protective Actions Put in Place

The current administration's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated air travel is being curtailed to uphold air traffic control security during the federal government funding lapse, setting a new duration record and with little indication of a resolution between conservative legislators and Democratic representatives to end the federal budget standoff.

Airline regulators identified “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic needs cutting by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a move that would force airlines to cancel thousands of flights and trigger a chain reaction of scheduling complications and delays at major US air terminals.

Official Statement

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, commented on social media Thursday that the move was “not about politics” but rather “about assessing the data and mitigating accumulating danger in the system as flight directors continue working without pay”.

“Flying is safe today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking,” Duffy added.

Travel Disruptions

Experts predict hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. The flight decreases might account for as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats total, according to an calculation by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The targeted air hubs spanning more than two dozen states include the busiest ones across the US – including Atlanta, Charlotte, Colorado's hub, Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, LAX, Florida hotspot and Bay Area airport. Among key urban centers – like NYC, Houston and Chicago – several air terminals will be impacted.

The trio of airports operating in the DC metro – Washington Dulles international, BWI and Reagan National – will be involved, certainly generating flight disruptions for government officials as well as additional passengers.

Additional Developments

• Below is the roster of domestic 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 current law enforcement presence in DC received a not guilty verdict of assault by a DC jury on Thursday in the latest legal rebuke of the federal involvement.
• Several liberal representatives saw Tuesday’s significant election victories as evidence they should hold the line and secure the best deal from GOP members before agreeing to end the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Democratic officials lauded Nancy Pelosi as a “courageous, pioneering” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, following her announcement that after 20 terms in Congress she intends to step down.
• The thinktank head, the chief of the political research group behind the policy blueprint, expressed regret for supporting Tucker Carlson’s interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is rejecting appeals to resign.