By James Morley III | Saturday, 08 November 2025 12:09 PM EST
Flight reductions triggered by the government shutdown could severely test the nation’s air travel system during the upcoming holiday season, according to Capt. Dennis Tajer, an American Airlines pilot and spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association. Tajer told Newsmax that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford are implementing measures to “protect the safety margin” after data revealed increasing fatigue among air traffic controllers amid ongoing staffing shortages.
“The FAA took a definitive maneuver to ensure safety,” Tajer said during an appearance on Newsmax’s “America Right Now,” noting that air traffic controllers have been overworked as flight volumes remain high. He emphasized, “Their sole goal is to keep people safe, and that’s our oath to passengers as well.”
The FAA’s plan involves reducing flights by up to 10% by the end of next week, with reductions increasing incrementally: 6% on Tuesday, 8% on Thursday, and 10% on Friday. “That’s a significant number of aircraft,” Tajer stated. He warned that even minor cuts could cause widespread delays and cancellations, further straining an already stressed system preparing for the holiday travel rush.
Airlines are relying on reserve pilots to manage the workload, Tajer added, quipping, “We’re nibbling at the Thanksgiving turkey early.” Despite the challenges, he reiterated pilots’ commitment to safety, saying, “We’ve got one mission out there, and that’s to keep you safe.” He criticized government actions as unnecessary, stating, “We plan for Mother Nature. We don’t plan for government nature like this.”
The Allied Pilots Association and major airlines have advocated for a “clean continuing resolution” to reopen the government, calling it the quickest way to stabilize operations. Tajer stressed that the shutdown has no connection to the airline industry, urging, “Keep this fight off our airplanes and out of my cockpit so we can do what we do best: Keep people safe.”
