Secretary Sean Duffy warned that there will be a 10% reduction in air travel capacity at 40 major US airports from Friday onwards.
The decision comes because air traffic controllers report issues with fatigue, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a brief duffy.
“This is unusual, as the shutdown is unusual, just as the fact that our retainers have not been paid for a month is unusual,” said Fa Chief Bryan Bodeford.
About 1.4 million Federal workers, from air traffic controllers to parking wards, are working without pay – or on forced leave with federal funding.
Unions say many employees are sickened by the stress or forced to take second jobs as financial pressures rise in what is the longest shutdown in US history.
The flight reductions will be gradual, starting with 4% of domestic flights on Friday, after 5% on Saturday, before Sunday, the following week, again on Sunday, on Saturday on Sunday, on Saturday on Sunday, with the start of the arrival, to stop the arrivals, citing four anonymous sources.
The names of the affected airports – all traffic locations – will be released on Thursday, officials said.
The cancellation could affect between 3,500 and 4,000 flights per day.
“We’re seeing pressures building in a way that we didn’t feel — if we let them go unchecked — we’re going to be able to continue to operate the safest airline system in the world,” Bedford said.
Duffy said air travel is still safe, and the decision to cancel flights was made to maintain safety and recovery.
If the shutdown continues and adds more pressure to the system, additional containment measures may be necessary, Bedford said.
In a statement, American Airlines, the second largest carrier in North America, said that it is repairing flights that will not be affected “.
A spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines, the fourth largest, said in a statement that the company is still investigating how to inform customers as soon as possible.
“We continue to urge Congress to immediately resolve its impasse and restore the National Airspace System to its full capacity,” the spokesperson added.
Delta Airlines declined to comment. The BBC has also reached out to other major US Airlines.
Once government funds ran out on 1 October, most federal workers were sent home and told they would be paid once the government reopened. Those who are considered essential, such as moderators, should continue to do their jobs without pay.
Almost immediately after the shutdown began, airports began to feel the effects. Some have to fly flights for several hours after air traffic controllers call in sick, while others rely on users from other airports.
Nick Daniels, the President of the Labor Union that represents more than 20,000 workers in Aviation, put the situation in stark terms on Wednesday.
“The Air Traffic Controller texted ‘I don’t have enough money to put gas in my car to work,'” he told CNN.
“We base what we do day in and day out on the forecast,” he said. “Now it’s incompetent.”
Duffy warned this week that flight cancellations could be coming, as half of the 30 major airports are experiencing staff shortages.
He previously said there was a risk that air traffic controllers would take on extra work during the shutdown, and that controllers would be threatened with inactivity.
“They have to make a decision, do I go to work and not get a Paycheque and not put food on the table? Or do I drive for Uber or Doordash or Hait Tables?” Duffy said on ABC on Sunday.