Additional Coverage:
- Private jets are halted at 12 major airports as air traffic controllers continue to call out amid the shutdown (businessinsider.com)
Private Jet Set Grounded: Government Shutdown Clips Wings at Major US Airports
Washington D.C. – The ongoing federal government shutdown is now hitting the skies for the nation’s wealthiest flyers, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has grounded most private jet operations at a dozen major U.S. airports. This move, which went into effect midnight Monday ET, comes amidst a surge in air traffic controller callouts, adding to the growing disruptions in air travel.
The restriction means that private jet owners, charter companies, and other business aviation operators are currently unable to utilize these key hubs. This latest development follows recent cuts of 10% to commercial airline flights across 40 major airports, a measure also implemented to alleviate the strain on short-staffed air traffic control facilities.
Ed Bolen, CEO of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the leading lobbying group for the private aviation industry, voiced his concerns in a Monday statement. Bolen stated the action is “disproportionately impacting general aviation,” a sector that encompasses private flying, pilot training, and sightseeing, and contributes significantly to the economy, generating over a million jobs and $340 billion in economic impact.
However, certain critical flights will remain exempt from the new restrictions. These include essential services such as medical flights, firefighting operations, law enforcement missions, emergency responses, military flights, and other FAA-authorized flights.
The 12 airports currently affected by the private jet ban are:
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
- Denver International Airport
- Boston Logan International Airport
- Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
- New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in D.C.
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Air traffic controllers are now in their 41st day of working without pay, having recently received their second $0 paycheck since the shutdown commenced on October 1. The strain on staffing has led to increased “staffing triggers,” where a dip in personnel below safety thresholds forces the FAA to slow airport traffic.
The impact has been significant across the board. On Saturday, 81 staffing triggers led to approximately 1,200 flight cancellations, about 7% of scheduled departures.
Sunday saw an even greater disruption, with over 2,600 flights (around 10%) canceled. By Monday morning, another 1,400 flights, or 5.5%, had already been grounded.
Passengers are also contending with lengthy delays. Business jets, now sharing the same queues as commercial airlines, are facing hours-long takeoff lines. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on CNN’s “State of the Union” that if the shutdown persists, travelers could face widespread delays and cancellations leading into the busy Thanksgiving travel period.
In a Monday post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump criticized controllers calling out during the shutdown and proposed a $10,000 bonus for those who report to work. Meanwhile, the Senate advanced a bill on Sunday aimed at resolving the shutdown, but it still requires approval from the House and the President’s signature to become law.
While private aircraft can attempt to reroute to smaller, nearby airports, this may not be a viable solution for passengers needing to connect to long-haul international flights from the major hubs. The ripple effect of the shutdown continues to spread, impacting all facets of air travel.