As American airlines continue to struggle with flight cancellations, President Donald Trump has told them they “must get back to work, NOW!!!” or face penalties.
Trump also said that those ATC workers who haven’t taken time off, will be paid a bonus of US$10,000.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered the cancellations across 40 major airports last week to manage staff shortages, caused by the government shutdown and the fact that they have now not been paid for over a month.
On his Truth Social account, Trump said: “Anyone who doesn’t (report to work) will be substantially ‘docked’. For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the “Democrat Shutdown Hoax,” I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country.
“For those that did nothing but complain and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. You didn’t step up to help the USA against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our country. You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record.
“If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind! You will be quickly replaced by true Patriots, who will do a better job on the Brand New State of the Art Equipment, the best in the World, that we are in the process of ordering.”
The ATC workers have stopped working as they need to work second jobs or cannot afford child care. Some 20 per cent to 40 per cent of air traffic controllers have been absent on any given day at the 30 biggest US airports during the shutdown, the FAA said last week.
Reuters reported, through an airline trade group, that 1.2 million customers had flights delayed or cancelled over the weekend due to air traffic issues. Airlines have cancelled more than 2,250 flights and delayed more than 8,100 on Monday, according to FlightAware. Sunday was worse as 2,950 flights were cancelled and nearly 11,200 delayed.
Last week, the FAA instructed airlines to cut 4 per cent of daily flights at 40 major airports. That is scheduled to rise to 6 per cent on Tuesday and then hit 10 per cent on Friday.
There were indications that the longest government shutdown in US history will end later this week after a compromise that would restore federal funding cleared an initial Senate hurdle late on Sunday.
Follow us on
