Major US Airports to Cut Flights Amid FAA Shutdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The FAA will reduce air traffic by 10% at 40 major U.S. airports starting Friday due to the ongoing government shutdown. Air traffic controllers working without pay have triggered safety concerns, prompting the cuts. Airlines are adjusting schedules and warning travelers of potential delays and cancellations.
Flight Cuts at U.S. Airports Quick Looks
- FAA to cut flights at 40 major U.S. airports
- Reductions affect New York, Chicago, LA, Atlanta, Miami, and more
- Cuts begin Friday due to air traffic controller shortages
- FAA cites safety risks as unpaid staff call off work
- Airlines offering refunds, passengers advised to check schedules
- Package delivery hubs for FedEx, UPS also affected
- Up to 1,800 daily flights, 268,000 passengers impacted
- Shutdown began October 1, longest in U.S. history
- Weekend delays already rising due to staffing shortages
- Airlines, unions press Congress to end the standoff
Deep Look: Government Shutdown Forces Air Traffic Reductions at Major U.S. Airports
WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Wednesday it will reduce air traffic at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports starting Friday, citing severe staffing issues among unpaid air traffic controllers due to the ongoing government shutdown. The unprecedented move marks a major disruption to U.S. air travel as the shutdown reaches day 37.
Airports in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Denver, and many others are on the FAA’s reduction list, which was distributed to airlines and obtained by the Associated Press. In cities like Houston, San Francisco, and Orlando, multiple airports will be affected, signaling widespread travel disruption nationwide.
The FAA plans to cut flights by 10% in these “high-volume” markets to maintain safety as more air traffic controllers miss work. Most controllers have already gone without one paycheck and are on track to miss a second next week, escalating absenteeism and operational strain.
“We can’t ignore the growing impact,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “This is new territory. We’ve never implemented these kinds of reductions due to a government shutdown.”
Passengers and Airlines Scramble
Travelers will begin receiving cancellation notices starting Thursday. Airlines including United, American, and Delta have promised refunds to affected passengers, even for non-refundable tickets. Some carriers are also reworking their schedules to minimize disruption, but weekend plans for thousands of travelers could be impacted with little warning.
Budget airline Frontier advised customers to book backup tickets with other carriers to avoid being stranded.
According to aviation data firm Cirium, the cuts could affect as many as 1,800 flights per day, impacting over 268,000 passengers across the U.S.
The changes are not just limited to passenger traffic. Two critical cargo hubs — FedEx in Memphis and UPS in Louisville — are also affected, threatening delays in package deliveries, especially as the holiday shipping season ramps up. The Louisville airport was also the site of a recent fatal cargo plane crash, adding further scrutiny.
Mounting Pressure on FAA Staff
Since the shutdown began on October 1, air traffic controllers have been required to work mandatory six-day weeks without pay. Many have started calling off shifts, unable to make ends meet without income.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Administrator Bedford said they are coordinating with major airlines to plan the safest way to implement the cuts. Duffy has warned that if the shutdown continues and controllers miss a second paycheck, the skies could become “dangerously chaotic.”
“There’s only so long people can go unpaid before the system begins to crack,” Duffy said.
Rising Delays Across the System
Though isolated flight delays due to staffing had been manageable in October, the situation deteriorated rapidly last weekend. Between Friday and Sunday, at least 39 air traffic control facilities reported staffing limitations — far more than usual, according to an AP analysis.
Staffing shortages are hitting both regional control centers and individual airport towers, creating bottlenecks and disrupting the flow of air traffic, even when weather is not a factor.
The FAA has acknowledged the strain and said Wednesday’s decision was meant to avoid the kind of operational collapse that could occur if staffing issues continue to escalate.
Airlines and Industry Leaders Demand Action
The aviation industry is now urging Congress to resolve the shutdown, warning of long-term damage to U.S. travel infrastructure and passenger confidence.
Geoff Freeman, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, called the situation “entirely avoidable” and blamed political gridlock for putting strain on a critical sector.
“This shutdown is forcing difficult operational decisions that disrupt travel and damage confidence in the U.S. air travel experience,” Freeman said.
Analysts say even smaller and mid-sized airports could see cuts, as airlines rebalance schedules.
Industry expert Henry Harteveldt predicts the shutdown will affect “almost every corner” of U.S. aviation, saying, “This is not just a big city problem.”
Next Steps Uncertain
As of Thursday, there is no timeline for restoring full flight schedules. The FAA says reductions will remain in place indefinitely, until safety data shows the staffing situation has stabilized.
Meanwhile, Congress remains locked in negotiations, with little sign of a breakthrough.
Until then, travelers are urged to monitor flight status updates, expect possible delays, and consider alternate travel plans.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.