FAA to Cut Flights if Shutdown Continues
Air traffic reductions could affect 40 major airports as staffing shortages worsen nationwide.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to reduce flights at dozens of major U.S. airports as early as Friday if Congress fails to reach a deal to end the ongoing government shutdown. The move, intended to maintain safety amid growing staff shortages, could impact thousands of flights nationwide.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA will reduce 10% of air traffic at 40 high-volume airports across the country. The specific airports affected have not yet been identified.
“As we start to implement this drawdown in service, it will be restricted to these 40 high-volume traffic markets,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said. “We’re going to ask the airlines to work with us collaboratively to reduce their schedules.”
Staffing Shortages Push System to the Limit
The announcement follows mounting strain on the aviation system as air traffic controllers, who must continue working without pay during the shutdown, face growing financial pressure. Many are now missing their second paycheck, with some taking on second jobs or calling in sick in protest.
“We have asked controllers to show up for work, but I’m not naive to understand that they’re trying to figure out how they meet their daily obligations,” Duffy said. “Because of that, we’ve seen staffing pressures throughout our airspace. Those who travel will see that we’ve had more delays and more cancellations.”
According to a CNN analysis, the FAA has reported more than 400 staffing shortages at facilities across the country since the start of the shutdown — more than four times the number from the same period last year.
The FAA met with major airlines Wednesday night to discuss how the plan will be implemented. Bedford called the approach “prescriptive” and “surgical,” noting that the agency’s top priority is maintaining safety across the national airspace.
“We are going to proactively make decisions that keep the airspace safe,” Duffy said.
Airlines Caught Off Guard
Airlines were notified of the plan roughly one hour before it was made public, according to an airline industry source.
“We are working with the federal government to understand all details of the new reduction mandate and will strive to mitigate impacts to passengers and shippers,” Airlines for America, a major industry trade group, said in a statement.
Bedford added that the new measures will go beyond commercial aviation and could include restrictions on space launches and small aircraft traffic in select markets.
“I want to applaud the controllers who continue to come to work daily, keeping our system safe,” Bedford said. “But I also want to recognize the fact that the data is telling us we need to do more.”
Airline Responses
Most major airlines said they expect limited impact, though several are still assessing how the cuts will affect their schedules.
Frontier Airlines issued the strongest warning to passengers, urging them to prepare for potential disruptions.
“If your flight is cancelled, your chances of being stranded are high,” CEO Barry Biffle said. “I would simply have a backup ticket on another airline. I’m sorry this is happening. Hopefully the shutdown is over soon.”
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told employees that long-haul international and hub-to-hub routes will not be affected, but the carrier will cut some regional and domestic mainline flights to preserve system integrity. “That’s important to maintain the integrity of our network, give impacted customers as many options as possible to resume their trip, and sustain our crew pairing systems,” he wrote. United will also offer refunds to passengers, even on nonrefundable tickets.
American Airlines said it expects the “vast majority” of its customers will not be affected, while Southwest Airlines urged Congress to “immediately resolve its impasse” as it reviews how the restrictions may affect its schedule.
Delta Air Lines declined comment, referring questions to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the FAA.
A System Under Strain
The FAA’s move represents a significant step in managing the aviation system during a prolonged shutdown. With staffing levels at historic lows and safety operations stretched thin, officials warn that delays and cancellations are likely to increase if the political stalemate continues.