FAA Cuts 10% of Flights at 40 Airports Amid Shutdown
FAA Cuts 10% of Flights at 40 Airports Amid Shutdown
Thousands of flights could be delayed as the FAA trims capacity at 40 major airports during the government shutdown, impacting travel nationwide.
As the federal government shutdown drags into its 36th day, the FAA says flight capacity will be reduced by 10% at 40 major airports starting Friday. The reductions come as staffing pressures mount, with some air traffic controllers and other workers missing paychecks. The scale of the cut could translate to between 3,500 and 4,000 flights off the daily schedule, depending on weather and traffic at each airport.
Travel leaders warn the reductions will ripple beyond a few flight timetables. Major hubs likely affected include airports serving New York, Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, Dallas–Fort Worth, and Boston, among others, with travelers facing longer waits at security lines and potential delays at their gates as screening and ground operations feel the strain.
Officials stress that safety remains the top priority, even as capacity is trimmed. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency cannot ignore staffing pressures or the risk of telling the public the system is safe while those pressures persist. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the 10% cut, noting it could shave thousands of flights from the daily schedule and tighten airline margins across the network.
Analysts offer a sense of scale: Cirium estimates the cuts could mean as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 airline seats removed from the schedule. With the shutdown expected to linger, the move adds another layer of disruption to a peak travel period, complicating plans for travelers and stressing airports already dealing with security delays and routine congestion.
Cover image source: FAA Will Reduce Flights This Week Due To Shutdown—Thousands Of Flights Could Reportedly Be Impacted 🔗
