FAA Cuts Flights at 40 Major Airports as Government Shutdown Cripples U.S. Air Travel.
A sweeping Federal Aviation Administration order to reduce flights at 40 major U.S. airports has thrown the nation’s air travel system into turmoil, grounding more than 1,000 flights and delaying thousands more as the government shutdown stretches into its second month.
The FAA confirmed Friday that flight operations at high-traffic airports — from New York and Chicago to Los Angeles and Atlanta — will be gradually reduced by up to 10% by November 14, citing “unacceptable safety risks” amid mounting stress and fatigue among air traffic controllers who have been working without pay.
“We are seeing signs of stress in the system,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said. “We’re proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure Americans continue to fly safely.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed the warning, saying the decision was based on risk assessments, not politics. “If this continues, we could see reductions rise to 15% or even 20% by the holidays,” Duffy said.
Nationwide Disruption
As of Friday evening, over 1,000 flights were canceled and 4,300 delayed, according to FlightAware.
The airports most affected include Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Reagan National in Washington, D.C. — where airport officials warned of “significant delays and cancellations” through the weekend.
Major airlines are cutting schedules to comply with FAA orders. United Airlines canceled nearly 500 flights between Friday and Sunday, American Airlines canceled 220, and Delta confirmed all planned weekend flight reductions were complete.
The industry group Airlines for America said more than 3.5 million passengers have already faced disruption since the shutdown began. The group urged Congress to end the stalemate “to get federal workers paid and get our airspace back to normal before the holiday rush.”
Shutdown Politics Boil Over
The cascading disruption has sharpened political tensions in Washington. President Donald Trump on Friday demanded that Senate lawmakers stay in session “until they have a Deal to end the Democrat Shutdown,” calling on Republicans to “terminate the filibuster immediately.”
Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have proposed a compromise to reopen the government in exchange for a temporary extension of health care subsidies.
But Senate Majority Leader John Thune dismissed the plan as “a nonstarter,” prolonging what is now the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
Strain at the Airports
At Denver International Airport, officials submitted an extraordinary request to the FAA for permission to pay air traffic controllers directly from the airport’s own revenue — a stopgap the agency has yet to approve.
“Staffing issues are already impacting travel,” Denver CEO Phil Washington said. “As the shutdown drags on, air traffic controllers are being stressed unnecessarily.”
Transportation Secretary Duffy warned that even if the shutdown ends immediately, it will take time to restore normal operations: “Controllers who’ve been calling out will not all return right away. Lifting restrictions will be gradual.”
Holiday Uncertainty Ahead
The timing could not be worse. The Thanksgiving travel period is projected to see 31 million passengers, an all-time record. FAA data shows scheduled flight reductions of 4% this week will rise to 10% by November 14 — just one week before the holiday rush.
With the shutdown showing no signs of ending, the FAA faces a difficult balance between public safety and national frustration.
The message to travelers: expect longer lines, fewer flights, and a chaotic start to the holiday season — unless Washington finds a way to get its own house back in order.
