Aviation chiefs predict travel chaos amid US spending cuts

Airlines and airports in the US are bracing themselves for travel chaos as aviation authorities are forced to make major spending cuts.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been told it must make cuts of around $600 million as part of the sweeping "sequester" cuts which start in the US today.

The FAA has told its 47,000 employees that it has no choice but to consider compulsory unpaid leave for staff, eliminating night shifts, reducing preventative maintenance and closing over 100 air traffic control towers.

Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood warned these changes, due to come into play in April, would be "very painful for the flying public".

US airlines and airports are preparing themselves for lengthy flight delays and cancellations, stranded passengers and longer than ever security check point and customs lines.

The are considering various contingency plans, include getting concessions for airports to stay open longer for stranded passengers, strategic changes to schedules, and increased airport facilities for unexpected sleep-overs.

The sequester is a $1.2 trillion collection of spending cuts that start today and will stretch over the next 10 years.

Some $85 billion will be cut in the first year, divided evenly between the military budget and domestic spending programmes.

Under the terms, cuts must be spread throughout departments rather than focused on specific areas.

by TravelMole US