AfA questions FAA's flight capacity reduction plans
The Airforwarders Association (AfA) has expressed concern over the FAA's announced 10% flight capacity reduction at 40 major US airports, amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. The FAA has not disclosed which airports will be affected or how the cuts will be implemented, leaving the air cargo industry uncertain on how to mitigate the impact.
Brandon Fried, AfA's executive director, called for transparency, emphasising the need for clarity on affected locations and operational effects, as supply chain disruptions escalate. He warned that staff shortages due to unpaid federal employees – including air traffic controllers and border agents – could worsen, further slowing the supply chain. AfA urges congress and the president to immediately end the shutdown, pay essential workers and clarify the scope and consequences of the FAA's flight reductions to protect cargo operations and the broader economy.