With the government shutdown dragging into another week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to reduce air traffic by 10% at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports beginning Friday, November 7. The move comes as air traffic controller shortages and unpaid federal staff are straining the aviation system and causing widespread flight delays and cancellations.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the decision was made to ensure safety amid staffing pressures. “We’re going to ask the airlines to work with us collaboratively to reduce their schedules,” Bedford explained, adding that the reductions will be “prescriptive” and “surgical.”
According to CNN, more than 400 staffing shortages have been reported at FAA facilities since the shutdown began, more than four times the number from this time last year. Controllers who are working without pay have started missing shifts or taking second jobs, further tightening the system. The FAA said the cuts could also affect space launches and small aircraft operations in select markets.
Airlines were notified of the new plan shortly before the public announcement, prompting swift responses from the industry. Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle warned passengers to prepare for disruptions. “If you are flying Friday or in the next ten days and need to be there or don’t want to be stranded, I highly recommend booking a backup ticket,” he said.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby also addressed employees and customers in a company-wide memo confirming that United will comply with the FAA’s directive while prioritizing safety and minimizing disruption. “The FAA’s goal is to relieve pressure on the aviation system so that we can all continue to operate safely. That is the FAA’s highest priority and ours as well,” Kirby wrote.
Kirby said United’s schedule reductions will focus on regional and domestic routes that don’t connect its main hubs while international and hub-to-hub flights will remain largely unaffected. United plans to proactively notify travelers of schedule changes through its app and website and will offer refunds including for nonrefundable and basic economy tickets to anyone who chooses not to fly.
Meanwhile the U.S. Travel Association urged lawmakers to end the shutdown immediately, warning that the flight reductions will further erode consumer confidence in air travel. “The decision to reduce scheduled flight capacity, while necessary to keep our skies safe, will inevitably affect the travel experience,” said U.S. Travel President and CEO Geoff Freeman. “The fault for this situation rests squarely at the feet of Congress.”
Travel Tip: If you’re flying within the next two weeks, check your flight status frequently, sign up for airline notifications and consider booking a backup flight if timing is critical. Delays and cancellations are likely to ripple across the system until the government reopens.
For now, the FAA says its priority remains keeping the airspace safe but travelers should brace for turbulence ahead.
