Los Angeles International Airport will be among the airports forced to cut their flight capacities by 10% beginning Friday due to staffing problems among air-traffic controllers during the government shutdown.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday the reductions in capacity at 40 high-volume airports. The list will be released Thursday, but ABC News obtained a copy Wednesday, and reported that it includes Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport and San Diego International Airport.
There was no immediate response to emails sent before the start of customary business hours to the Department of Transportation and Los Angeles International Airport, seeking confirmation of the report.
Los Angeles International Airport is among the top five busiest airfields in the nation.
“I anticipate there will be additional disruptions,” Duffy said during a Washington, D.C., news conference Wednesday afternoon. “There will be frustration. We are working with the airlines. They’re going to work with passengers. But in the end, our sole role is to make sure that we keep this airspace as safe as possible.
“… There’s going to be a 10% reduction in capacity at 40 of our locations,” Duffy said. “… This is data-based. This is not based on what airline travels or has more flights out of what location. This is about where’s the pressure and how do we alleviate the pressure.”