FAA could slow air traffic during what’s expected to be the busiest Thanksgiving period on record

The FAA might need to slow down air traffic during the busiest holiday travel times because of air traffic controller staffing shortages, particularly in the Northeast. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker says this is most likely to occur in the New York area, where the agency has not been able to keep up with demand for air traffic controllers. “During the Thanksgiving travel period, we will use traffic flow management initiatives to deal with any staffing shortages on that particular day in this airspace, and we expect to have some of those shortages. So, we’re working diligently to make sure that that can operate as efficiently as possible,” Whitaker told reporters at a Thursday news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside of the capital. Earlier this year, the agency moved responsibility for handling Newark area air traffic to its facility in Philadelphia. “The has been meant to get us healthy on a staffing level,” Whitaker said, adding that since the move, there is now a “strong pipeline of 28 certified controller trainees who want to work in this airspace.” The FAA anticipates Tuesday, November 26, will be its busiest day for air traffic. Whitaker says the slow downs, if needed, will be put in place for safety reasons.<br/>