The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans to cut flight operations by 10% across 40 high-traffic airports in the United States starting Friday, November 7, 2025.
The move aims to ensure aviation safety as the ongoing government shutdown continues to put pressure on air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay since October 1.
Airports Impacted
Major airports affected include:
- Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Orlando, Miami, and San Francisco
- Multiple airports across New York, Houston, and Chicago
The FAA has already been delaying flights intermittently when staffing falls short, and these cuts are designed to prevent larger-scale disruptions.
Why the Cuts Are Necessary
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that the step was unavoidable due to rising fatigue and financial stress among controllers.
“In my 35 years in aviation, I haven’t seen a situation where such measures became necessary. We’re in uncharted territory,” he said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned earlier this week that missing a second consecutive paycheck could lead to “chaos in the skies” if staff shortages deepen.
Scale of Disruption
According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, the 10% reduction could result in:
- Up to 1,800 flights canceled
- More than 268,000 seats affected
United Airlines said it would primarily trim regional routes using smaller aircraft, while Delta Air Lines confirmed full refunds for passengers choosing not to fly — even for non-refundable fares.
Shutdown Impact on Staffing
From October 31 to November 2, at least 39 air traffic facilities reported staffing limits — a sharp rise from the pre-shutdown weekend average of 8.3 facilities.
The FAA said normal operations would not resume immediately even if the shutdown ends before Friday, citing the need for staff recovery and system stabilization.
