Topline News:
- A new order from the Federal Aviation Administration, which goes into effect Monday, restricts private and business jet flights at 12 of the nation’s busiest airports.
- The move is designed to alleviate pressure on air-traffic control staff, who are not being paid during the government shutdown.
- The announcement comes just as a Senate deal puts the government closer to reopening.
- Airlines for America (A4A), the trade association for the leading U.S. airlines, is urging Congress to end the shutdown
The newly announced FAA limitations will affect private aviation at major hubs including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International, and John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to the National Business Aviation Association.
“Last week, restrictions were announced on all aviation operations, including general aviation operations, at 40 U.S. airports,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen in a statement issued Sunday. “Today, further restrictions were announced that will effectively prohibit business aviation operations at 12 of those airports, disproportionately impacting general aviation, an industry that creates more than a million jobs, generates $340 billion in economic impact and supports humanitarian flights every day.”
The FAA’s restrictions effectively halt business aviation operations at the following airports:
These 12 Major U.S. Airports Are Affected
Starting today, all non-scheduled operations are prohibited at the following 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)
Private jet operators are responding swiftly, noting that the FAA order also permits Air Traffic Control to reduce services when the facility does not have adequate staffing levels, which is causing additional delays and disruptions.
“We are seeing a domino effect on other airports, where flights are spilling over into nearby reliever airports and overburdening them. This also happened last summer when the Newark airspace staffing shortage caused overflow issues at Westchester,” David Zipkin, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Tradewind Aviation, tells Forbes. Tradewind Aviation specializes in on-demand private charter and scheduled semi-private flights. “Our teams are proactively assisting our clients with alternate charter routing arrangements and scheduled flight changes as needed. We are currently offering free changes for anyone affected,” added Zipkin.
Meanwhile, airlines are welcoming the news of the Senate’s step toward ending the shutdown after a chaotic weekend resulting in the cancellation of thousands of flights. On Sunday, Airlines for America issued this statement, urging Congress to end the shutdown: “At a time of record air travel and increased reliance on cargo shipments, it is more important than ever to ensure that our nation’s airspace is safe, reliable and open. Now that the continuing resolution (CR)/minibus package has been offered, we strongly encourage the Senate to pass it swiftly and send it to the House with urgency.”