Flight Cuts Announced at 40 US Airports Amid Government Shutdown

In response to the ongoing government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans to reduce air traffic by 10 percent at 40 major US airports. According to the Associated Press, the reductions will go into effect on Friday, November 7 and will impact airports in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, and San Francisco.

The decision was made due to staffing shortages and fatigue among air traffic controllers who have been working without pay during the shutdown. FAA Administrator Michael Bedford stated that the move was necessary to ensure safety in the airspace system as controllers continue to miss paychecks.

In a statement, Bedford said, “We can’t ignore the strain our controllers are under. Safety remains our top priority, and these adjustments are a last resort to protect both passengers and personnel.

The flight cuts are expected to affect 1,800 flights and over 260,000 passenger seats nationwide, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Passengers are advised to check their flight status regularly and arrive early for weekend travel. United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines have also announced that they will prioritize smaller regional routes for reduction and will offer refunds to passengers who choose not to travel, even for nonrefundable tickets.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the strain on the system is “unsustainable” and urged Congress to end the shutdown immediately. He stated, “If this continues another week, we could see chaos in the skies. Controllers can miss one paycheck. They can’t miss two.

The FAA has also released a list of airports where flight cuts will take effect, including major hubs like Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

– Anchorage International (ANC)
– Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
– Boston Logan International (BOS)
– Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
– Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
– Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
– Dallas Love Field (DAL)
– Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
– Denver International (DEN)
– Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
– Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
– Newark Liberty International (EWR)
– Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
– Honolulu International (HNL)
– Houston Hobby (HOU)
– Washington Dulles International (IAD)
– George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
– Indianapolis International (IND)
– John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
– Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
– Los Angeles International (LAX)
– LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
– Orlando International (MCO)
– Chicago Midway International (MDW)
– Memphis International (MEM)
– Miami International (MIA)
– Minneapolis–St.