FAA Orders Nationwide Flight Reductions Amid Government Shutdown

FAA Mandates Airline Flight Reductions Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a significant reduction in flights across the United States, marking a historic move in response to the prolonged government shutdown. Set to commence Friday morning, the decision affects 40 airports in over two dozen states, including major hubs such as Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, and Charlotte.

In major metropolitan regions like New York, Houston, Chicago, and Washington, the impact will extend across multiple airports, with potential ripple effects influencing smaller airports nationwide.

Airlines have already begun adjusting their schedules, leading to numerous flight cancellations ahead of the FAA’s official mandate. By Thursday, over 780 flights had been canceled, according to FlightAware. Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have announced plans to cancel 170 and 220 flights daily through Monday, respectively.

The FAA outlined that the initial reduction will start at 4% and gradually increase to 10% by November 14. The cutbacks will be enforced from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will affect all commercial airlines.

The primary reason for the cuts is to alleviate the burden on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay due to the shutdown. These employees are currently facing increased workloads, with mandatory overtime and six-day work weeks, leading to a rise in absences as financial pressures mount.

“You can’t expect people to go in to work when they’re not getting a paycheck,” said Kelly Matthews from Flat Rock, Michigan, a frequent business traveler who has had to cancel most of her trips. “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 daycare and everything else.”

This directive arrives amidst escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Congressional Democrats over the shutdown. Airlines, in response, are attempting to mitigate the impact on passengers, focusing on reducing flights to smaller and medium-sized cities.

According to the Department of Transportation, airlines must refund customers for canceled flights, though they are not obligated to cover additional costs like food and lodging unless the cancellation is within the airline’s control.

Industry expert Henry Harteveldt has cautioned that the reductions will “have a noticeable impact across the U.S. air transportation system.”

The cutbacks could also affect package delivery services, as airports in Memphis, Tennessee, and Louisville, Kentucky—key distribution centers for FedEx and UPS, respectively—are included in the list of affected airports.