The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced that due to the government shutdown in the United States, there is a shortage of air traffic controllers, leading the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to “effectively ban” private aircraft takeoffs and landings at 12 major airports across the country on Monday, November 10.
This move further expands the flight restrictions, impacting not only commercial aviation but also private aircraft, as the shortage of air traffic controllers has been slowing down flight operations nationwide.
Last week, the Trump administration instructed commercial airlines in the U.S. to reduce flights to alleviate the pressure on air traffic controllers working without pay during the shutdown. Initially, government officials did not impose the same restrictions on private aircraft as on commercial flights, but the shortage of controllers has significantly disrupted flight operations throughout the country.
The first wave of flight reductions for commercial airlines, amounting to 4%, came into effect last Friday, with expectations to increase to 10% by this Friday.
According to statistics from the flight tracking website FlightAware, the shortage of air traffic controllers across the U.S. has worsened over the past weekend, leading to the cancellation of over 4,500 commercial flights and delays for more than 17,000 flights. Aviation industry professionals have welcomed the progress made by the Senate on Sunday evening to end the government shutdown, but this prolonged shutdown is yet to reach a final resolution.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen issued a statement on Sunday evening, emphasizing safety as the cornerstone of business aviation and assuring their commitment to ensuring the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS). One of the measures NBAA plans to take is to ensure that private aircraft operators understand these restrictions and their implications.
NBAA noted that most private jet operators do not typically use the busiest commercial airports.
FAA has not yet commented on the matter.
According to NBAA, the latest ban affects operations at the following 12 major airports:
– Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
– Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
– Denver International Airport (DEN)
– General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport (BOS)
– George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
– Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
– John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
– Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
– Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
– Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
– Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
– Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)