Washington (EFE).- The United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed on Friday that international flights will not be affected despite the reduction in air traffic caused by the government shutdown.
Duffy told the press at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that international flights will not be affected because the US has international treaties that must be respected. Due to these agreements, international flights will not be affected.
The Secretary added that some countries are waiting for the US to breach the agreements so they can reduce US flights, but he insisted this will not happen.
Since Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reduced air traffic in the US by 10% due to a shortage of approximately 2,000 air traffic controllers caused by the government shutdown, the longest in the country’s history.
According to FlightAware, over 800 flights have been canceled, and at least 1,200 flights have been delayed.
Major airlines, such as American Airlines, United, and Delta, announced on Thursday that they would prioritize maintaining international routes.
Airports affected by the reduction in air traffic include JFK and LaGuardia in New York, LAX in Los Angeles, California, and O’Hare in Chicago, Illinois.
Others impacted include Dallas and Houston (Texas); Washington, DC.; Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Orlando (Florida); Philadelphia (Pennsylvania); Atlanta (Georgia); Boston (Massachusetts); and Newark (New Jersey), among others.
The Department of the Treasury estimates that about 4,000 flights per day could be grounded because of the new restrictions, implemented to ensure passenger safety.
The government shutdown began on Oct. 1 due to a lack of agreement between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate on a budget that would allow federal agencies to continue operating.
At 38 days, this shutdown surpasses the previous record set in 2018 during Donald Trump’s first term, which ended after 35 days due to air traffic control shortages. EFE
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