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IATA chief: US shutdown is not causing significant flight disruptions

Willie Walsh said that the U.S. shutdown of government has not significantly affected domestic commercial flights, nor has it prevented the recruitment of air traffic controllers.

"There have been no significant impacts so far." Walsh, speaking at the World Aviation Festival held in Lisbon, said: "I would say that there hasn't been any major damage."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), on Monday, said that staffing problems were causing delays in several airports including Newark and Denver. The FAA had to slow down air traffic in New York during a 35-day shut down in 2019. This put pressure on legislators to end the standoff quickly.

Air traffic controllers, including 13,000 of them, will miss their first pay on October 14, but they must still report to work during the shutdown.

Walsh noted that the shutdown hasn't affected the recruitment of air traffic controllers.

"That is a major change compared to the past and a positive development." "I hope this issue will be resolved quickly," said he.

He said that IATA continues seeing a strong demand for passengers and cargo on a global level.

The forecast is that passenger traffic will slow down to 5.8% per year in 2025 from 10.6% in the previous year. Year-to date, it was 5%.

(source: Reuters)