FAA Imposes Significant Flight Reductions at 40 Major Airports Amid Shutdown
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an order for airlines to reduce flight capacity by up to 10% at 40 major airports across the United States. This measure, set to commence on November 7, 2025, is a response to air traffic controller shortages triggered by the ongoing government shutdown.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced this unprecedented measure, which impacts major hubs including Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, all three New York area airports, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Los Angeles International Airport. The reductions began at 4% on Friday and will escalate to the full 10% by November 14.
“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to ensure the American people continue to fly safely,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
This marks the first time in Bedford’s 35-year career that such drastic measures have been necessary. Air traffic controllers, deemed essential employees, have been working without pay during the shutdown. This has led to an increase in sick calls and safety concerns. Some controllers have taken on second jobs to make ends meet, while others report severe fatigue due to mandatory overtime.
Major airlines including American, United, Delta, and Southwest are offering fee waivers for passengers wanting to change travel plans. American Airlines canceled 221 flights on Friday alone, while United canceled 184 flights.
General aviation operations, including private jets, may also face restrictions at high-impact airports like New Jersey’s Teterboro.
Source: CNBC