The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to implement an unusual order aimed at reducing air travel across the U.S. This follows a significant government shutdown and is slated to take effect Friday morning.
Forty airports have been identified for this measure, spanning over 20 states, and include major hubs like Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
While several airports in large metropolitan regions—including New York, Houston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.—will be impacted, smaller airports may also feel the effects.
In anticipation of the FAA’s order, airlines began adjusting their schedules and canceling flights as early as Thursday. Travelers with plans extending beyond the weekend were left anxious, hoping their flights would proceed as scheduled.
More than 810 flights across the nation have already been canceled, as reported by FlightAware. Delta Airlines announced it would reduce around 170 flights, while American Airlines indicated it would cut 220 flights per day by Monday.
The FAA’s reductions will start at 4% and are expected to rise to 10% by November 14. These cuts will operate between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. and will impact all commercial airlines.
The agency cited the necessity for these cuts to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay for over a month.
Many controllers are on six-day work weeks and facing increased financial strain, leading to growing dissatisfaction. “You can’t expect people to go to work if they’re not getting paid,” said Kelly Matthews from Flat Rock, Michigan, who has had to cancel most of her travel plans. “It’s not that they don’t want to work; they just can’t manage expenses like gas and childcare.”
This order coincides with increasing pressure from the Trump administration on Congressional Democrats to resolve the government shutdown.
Airlines have stated they will strive to limit customer disruption, with some plans aimed at scaling back services to and from smaller cities.
The U.S. Department of Transportation insists that airlines must refund customers for canceled flights, although they won’t cover additional expenses like meals or hotel stays unless the cause was within the airline’s control.
Industry analyst Henry Harteveldt highlighted that these cuts could have a “significant impact on the entire U.S. air transportation system.”
Moreover, the reductions could also hinder package services, considering that two airports on the list serve as key distribution centers for major shipping companies—FedEx in Memphis, Tennessee, and UPS in Louisville, Kentucky, where a recent fatal cargo plane crash occurred.
