FAA Reduces Flights Amid Prolonged Government Shutdown

Fri Nov 07 2025 10:26:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In an unprecedented move, the Federal Aviation Administration is set to implement flight reductions due to the ongoing government shutdown, significantly impacting air travel across the United States.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will enforce flight reductions starting Friday morning due to a record-long government shutdown. The cuts will affect 40 airports across more than two dozen states, including major hubs like Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles. Airlines are already adjusting schedules, with hundreds of flights canceled. The FAA's measures aim to ease the burden on overworked air traffic controllers, many of whom have been working without pay. The cuts may also have repercussions on package delivery services.

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced a significant reduction in flights nationwide, set to commence Friday morning amid an unprecedented government shutdown that has lasted record-long.

The FAA's directive will affect approximately 40 selected airports spanning more than two dozen states, including critical hubs such as Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Major metropolitan areas including New York, Houston, Chicago, and Washington will see multiple airports affected, with potential ripple effects extending to smaller regional airports as a consequence.

In anticipation of the FAA's cutbacks, airlines have begun modifying their schedules and canceling flights, leaving many travelers anxious about their plans for the weekend ahead. Data from FlightAware indicates that over 780 flights have been canceled already. For instance, Delta Air Lines expects to cancel approximately 170 flights this Friday, while American Airlines is set to eliminate 220 flights per day through Monday.

The FAA plans to initially reduce flight volumes by 4%, which is projected to escalate to 10% by November 14. These restrictions will be imposed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will encompass all commercial airlines.

The necessity for these reductions has been framed as a measure to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers who have been working under strenuous conditions without pay for more than a month, often managing six-day work weeks with overtime. The rising financial strain has led many controllers to call in sick as exhaustion mounts.

Kelly Matthews, a frequent business traveler from Flat Rock, Michigan, expressed her concerns, stating, You can’t expect people to go in to work when they’re not getting a paycheck. I mean, it’s not a matter of them not wanting to do the job — but you can’t afford to pay for gas, your day care and everything else.”

As the Trump administration increases its pressure on Congress to resolve the shutdown, airlines are maneuvering to lessen the impact of the cuts on their customers. Some are focusing on reducing services to smaller cities. Customers are entitled to refunds for canceled flights, but airlines are not obligated to reimburse secondary costs such as meals and accommodations under standard conditions.

Industry analysts warn that the cuts will create a noticeable impact on the U.S. air transport system while potentially hindering delivery services, as two of the affected airports are significant hubs for FedEx and UPS operations.

The next few days may prove tumultuous for air travelers as they navigate canceled flights and a reduction in service options.