(BCN) – A Bay Area congressman is calling for a halt to all non-essential private jet flights amid a federal government shutdown that has created a shortage of air traffic controllers across the country and led to thousands of delays and cancellations of flights for the general public.
U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-Fairfield) wrote in a letter sent Friday to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy calling for “immediate action to ensure all luxury private jet operations are suspended before any reductions in commercial air travel are implemented.”
Duffy announced last week that airlines will have to reduce the number of flights by 10%, with the first increase starting Friday at 40 airports across the country, while the federal shutdown continues.
More than 75 flights were canceled Monday through five airports in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Santa Rosa and Monterey, according to aviation data site FlightAware.
Thousands have been canceled or delayed across the United States, Garamendi’s message said
The congressman’s letter noted that one in six flights operated by FAA air traffic controllers involve private aircraft.
“The prospect of allowing luxury travel on more than 15,000 private jets in the country while working families struggle to get to their destinations sends a clear and unacceptable message: that the wealthy play by different rules,” Garamendi wrote.
With the exception of aircraft used for agricultural, emergency or other essential public service purposes, “all available resources within the FAA should be devoted to maintaining safe and fair air travel for the public,” he said.
San Francisco International Airport and Oakland’s San Francisco Bay Airport are among the airports on the FAA’s list of 40 high-traffic airports affected by the cuts.
Garamendi’s full message on private jets can be found here On the house website.
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