The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an unprecedented order to scale back flights nationwide due to the prolonged government shutdown, starting Friday.
According to the order, more than 40 airports across over two dozen states will experience these reductions, impacting major hubs including Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles.
Travelers in metropolitan areas like New York, Houston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., will also face multiple affected airports, with potential ripple effects felt at smaller regional airports.
In anticipation of the FAA's decision, airlines have begun adjusting their schedules and preemptively canceling flights, resulting in over 780 canceled flights reported by FlightAware. Delta Airlines plans to scrap about 170 flights on Friday, while American Airlines anticipates canceling 220 flights daily through Monday.
The FAA expects the reductions to start at 4% and increase up to 10% by November 14, affecting all commercial airlines between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
The agency maintains that these cuts are necessary to alleviate the burden on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay during the shutdown and have faced growing stress and fatigue.
One traveler, Kelly Matthews from Flat Rock, Michigan, expressed frustration stating, You can’t expect people to go in to work when they’re not getting a paycheck. It’s not a matter of them not wanting to do the job— they can't afford the expenses.
As the government shutdown continues, the Trump administration is intensifying pressure on Democrats in Congress to reach a resolution. Airlines have pledged to minimize the impact of these cuts on customers but are required to offer refunds for canceled flights without covering other ancillary costs, such as meals or accommodations.
The fallout from these flight reductions could also extend to delivery services, as two major distribution airports for FedEx and UPS are included in the FAA's flight reduction list. Industry experts warn that these changes could lead to visible disruptions across the U.S. air transportation network.
The effects of this operational scale-back are already apparent to travelers and carriers alike, as they brace for an uncertain travel landscape heading into the upcoming holiday season.
