The FAA issued its order cutting 10 percent of traffic at the nation’s 40 busiest airports. Teterboro Airport in New Jersey is the only GA-centric airport included on the FAA’s list. NBAA applauded the action, which tries to ensure no operators are unduly burdened. The cuts will be staged and be based on the current number of operations by each carrier at each airport. “We want to thank the FAA for striking a thoughtful balance to proactively address safety through this order, which reflects the diverse needs of all stakeholders within America’s aviation system,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “As we navigate this unique moment, our focus remains on ensuring the safety of flight and equitable treatment for business aviation operations. We also commend the FAA for recognizing the nation’s air traffic controllers and understanding their vital role in maintaining the smooth and safe operation of our aviation system.”
The move was announced Wednesday. The full list of affected airports is as follows: Anchorage International (ANC), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), Boston Logan International (BOS), Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), Charlotte Douglas International (CLT), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG), Dallas Love (DAL), Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), Denver International (DEN), Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW), Newark Liberty International (EWR), Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL), Honolulu International (HNL), Houston Hobby (HOU), Washington Dulles International (IAD), George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH), Indianapolis International (IND), New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK), Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS), Los Angeles International (LAX), New York LaGuardia (LGA), Orlando International (MCO), Chicago Midway (MDW), Memphis International (MEM), Miami International (MIA), Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP), Oakland International (OAK), Ontario International (ONT), Chicago O`Hare International (ORD), Portland International (PDX), Philadelphia International (PHL), Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), San Diego International (SAN), Louisville International (SDF), Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA), San Francisco International (SFO), Salt Lake City International (SLC), Teterboro (TEB), and Tampa International (TPA). The full order follows:
Before the shutdown, traffic kept climbing while staffing fell behind. Now we’ve hit the wall. The FAA’s calling a 10% cut a “goal,” but it’s really a retreat to match a 20% controller gap, about 3,500 short. Sure, it might ease the load now and keep the system from cracking before the shutdown hits harder, but it’s still a step backward. Shrinking the system to fit the shortage isn’t reform, it’s managed decline. Let’s see what the airlines have to say when their schedules start thinning.
There is something deliciously just about Teterboro being included in the 10% cuts. Oh the humanity amongst the poor captains of business and industry who will now be inconvenienced by having “readjust schedules” or find suitable airports further out in the hinterlands as this administration and legislative majority insists on paying for their tax cuts by cutting Medicaid and ACA health care insurance premiums for the less fortunate in the US population. Teterboro, home away from home for many a corporate pilot, myself included back in the day. Teterboro, deep in the maze of greater NYC airports and airspace where ATC is indispensable. Even with a 10% cut in traffic, Teterboro traffic will still be a rat race. Roll on Teterboro, roll on.
Airlines will adjust pricing. Done.
Supply and demand. If supply is cut more than demand drops, prices could be adjusted upward. For the scheduled airlines this may not be a big hit. They have the opportunity to operate with a reduction in some costs while prices can move to match demand.
As an addendum to Raf Sierra’s comment:
“We’re seeing air traffic controllers resign,” Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, told CNN.
“We didn’t see that in 2019,” Daniels went on. “We are 400 less controllers today than we were in the 2019 shutdown. And now they’ve been stretched so thin for so long, with so much going on, so much pressure on their backs, that they’re actually resigning from the profession.”