Airlines across the United States began cancelling flights on Thursday as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)ordered reductions in air traffic at some of the country’s busiest airports due to the ongoing government shutdown and worsening staffing pressures. By late Thursday, more than 760 flights scheduled for Friday had already been removed from airline timetables, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. The FAA’s order affects 40 major airports in more than two dozen states. Major hubs, including Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles and Charlotte, will see reduced air traffic.
In several large metro regions — including New York, Chicago, Washington and Houston — multiple airports will be impacted. Starting Friday, flight operations at affected airports will be cut by 4%, increasing to 10% by November 14, between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day. The reductions apply to all major U.S. carriers and some scheduled charter operators. International routes are exempt. The FAA said the decision is driven by mounting safety concerns, as air traffic controllers — who have been working without pay since the shutdown began on October 1 — continue to report fatigue and burnout. Many are now working six days a week under mandatory overtime, and more are taking sick leave.
“Risk is further increasing,” the FAA wrote in its advisory, noting that staffing shortages are compromising the system’s ability to safely manage current traffic levels.
Airlines are still determining which routes to cut. American Airlines said it has already reduced service by about 4% at the affected airports through Monday — around 220 cancellations per day — and will increase cuts in the coming weeks to align with the FAA’s direction. The flight reductions add pressure to the ongoing political standoff in Washington, with the Trump administration intensifying calls for Democrats to end the shutdown. As holiday travel season approaches, passengers are being urged to check flight status regularly, anticipate delays and expect schedule changes in the coming days.
