The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 of the country’s busiest airports beginning on Friday morning. The decision comes as air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay during the ongoing government shutdown, show growing signs of fatigue and strain.
According to the FAA, the measure will affect thousands of flights nationwide, as the agency manages more than 44,000 aircraft movements every day, including commercial passenger services, cargo operations and private aviation. Although the agency has not released the full list of airports that will be impacted, it confirmed that the restrictions will remain in place for as long as necessary to ensure safety.
Unprecedented step for the FAA
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford described the move as an extraordinary but necessary step. “In my 35 years in aviation, I cannot recall a situation where we have had to take measures like this,” he said. Bedford explained that the decision was driven by staffing shortages and reports of increasing fatigue among air traffic controllers.
Many controllers have been on duty six days a week and have been working mandatory overtime without pay since the shutdown began on 1 October. The situation has raised concerns about mental and physical exhaustion within the workforce that manages one of the busiest and most complex airspaces in the world.
“We are not going to wait for a safety problem to manifest when the early indicators are telling us we can act today to prevent things from deteriorating,” Bedford said during a press briefing. “The system is extremely safe today and will be extremely safe tomorrow. But if pressures continue to build, we will take additional measures.”
Nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks, ensuring the safety of more than 50,000 daily operations across the national airspace system (NAS).
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) November 1, 2025
As we head into this weekend, a surge in callouts is straining staffing levels at multiple…
Scope and scale of the cuts
The 10% reduction is expected to affect around 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats, according to estimates by the aviation analytics company Cirium. Analysts expect that major hubs, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta and Washington D.C., will be among those most affected.
For instance, if the FAA distributes the cuts evenly across all 40 airports, Chicago O’Hare International could see around 120 of its 1,200 scheduled flights for Friday cancelled.
While it is not unusual for the FAA to slow down or restrict flights because of weather or technical issues, a reduction of this scale due to staffing shortages is extremely rare. It follows one of the most challenging weekends since the shutdown began, when at least 39 air traffic control facilities reported limited staffing, a figure well above the normal average.
BREAKING: The FAA will require airlines to begin cutting flights from these 40
— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) November 6, 2025
airports starting as early as tomorrow. Airlines will starts cutting 4% of flights per day until they reach 10% per day early next week. pic.twitter.com/0CujA6J5hm
Airlines respond
Major airlines including United, American and Southwest have said they will do everything possible to limit the impact on passengers. United Airlines confirmed that it will comply with the FAA’s order but will focus its cuts on regional and domestic services rather than on long-haul or hub-to-hub routes.
In a message to staff, United’s Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby said that the airline supports the FAA’s decision, describing it as a necessary measure to preserve safety. “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,” he said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation have directed every airline, across 40 U.S. airports, to meaningfully reduce their schedules during the government shutdown. The goal is to relieve pressure on the national aviation system to keep us…
— United Airlines (@united) November 6, 2025
United also announced flexible rebooking options and full refunds, even for non-refundable tickets, for customers who prefer not to travel during this period. American Airlines issued a similar statement, saying that the company is awaiting more details from the FAA but expects the majority of its flights to continue as planned.
Due to the ongoing government shutdown and nationwide air traffic control staffing shortages, the FAA has directed airlines to reduce flight schedules to maintain safe airspace operations starting Friday, Nov. 7.
— americanair (@AmericanAir) November 6, 2025
We expect the vast majority of customers’ travel will proceed as…
Southwest Airlines also confirmed that it is adjusting its schedule and crew assignments to comply with the directive. So far, there have been no reports of a surge in calls to airline hotlines, suggesting that passengers are still assessing the potential impact.
Political and economic context
The cuts come as the US government shutdown enters its 37th day, the longest in American history. More than 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration employees are currently working without pay.
US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said that the restrictions could be lifted immediately if Congress reaches an agreement to reopen the government. He blamed the political deadlock for creating unnecessary risks for both workers and travellers. Opposition leaders responded by accusing the administration of failing to negotiate in good faith on key funding provisions, prolonging the crisis.
Airlines and tourism groups have warned that the longer the shutdown continues, the greater the economic impact will be. Each cancelled flight represents lost revenue for airlines, as well as for hotels, restaurants and service providers across the travel sector. Aviation unions have also called on Congress to end the stalemate, citing growing risks to safety and morale.
🚨@USDOT is initiating a 10% reduction in capacity at 40 major airports.
— USDOT Rapid Response (@USDOTRapid) November 5, 2025
This data-based decision is designed to alleviate pressure on our air traffic controllers required to keep the skies safe. pic.twitter.com/9J9fCw84MA
Travellers advised to plan ahead
The FAA has stressed that the air travel system remains safe, but passengers should expect delays, cancellations and longer processing times at airports. Travellers heading to or from the United States are being advised to check flight statuses regularly and allow additional time for connections, especially during the upcoming Thanksgiving travel period.
Airlines are encouraging passengers to use their mobile applications and websites for real-time updates and rebooking options. Travel insurers are also recommending that customers verify whether their policies cover government shutdown-related disruptions.
There may be flight delays or cancellations. Our top priority is that when Americans fly, they will make it to their destination safely because @USDOT and the @FAANews have done their work. pic.twitter.com/1uDsFr5HDL
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 5, 2025
For the international travel community, the United States remains one of the world’s most important air transport markets, linking hundreds of cities across every continent. However, this episode highlights the vulnerability of complex transport systems when political disagreements halt government operations.
As Administrator Bedford put it, “Our goal is to protect the travelling public, the integrity of our airspace and the wellbeing of our workforce. We will take every step necessary to maintain that balance until the situation improves.”
For now, travellers are urged to stay informed, remain flexible and prepare for potential changes in their itineraries in the days ahead.
