How international flights are exempt from FAA cuts and what that means

(UNITED STATES) The Federal Aviation Administration issued an FAA emergency order this week that will cut domestic flight capacity at 40 major U.S. airports by as much as 10%, while placing an international flights exemption that keeps overseas routes untouched. The move, announced ahead of a final order expected Thursday, immediately split the impact between domestic passengers who will face reduced schedules and international travelers who, for now, will see no cuts to long‑haul or cross‑border services into and out of the United States 🇺🇸. Airlines and airport officials said they were preparing for a fast rollout during peak daytime operations, when the order applies.

What the order does and when it applies

Under the order, domestic reductions begin around 4% and will ramp up to as high as 10% for flights scheduled between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily at the affected airports, according to people familiar with the directive.

The FAA said the change is designed to relieve pressure in the busiest parts of the national airspace and at the most constrained airport facilities. Administrator Bryan Bedford described the move as a safety‑first decision, not a response to any single incident.

“Our sole role is to make sure that we keep this airspace as safe as possible. Reduction in capacity at 40 of our locations… is about where the pressure is and how to really deviate the pressure,” Bedford said.
“We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent, you know, things from deteriorating. So the system is extremely safe today will be extremely safe tomorrow.”

Who will feel the impact

• Domestic carriers and passengers will feel the most immediate effects because the order applies to U.S. routes during the busiest hours of the day.
• Airlines were told the cuts would be proportionate across the board, with the FAA considering how to handle carriers that fly less than daily to some targeted airports.
  • This approach is intended to share the burden rather than concentrate it on a few carriers or hubs.

For travelers, that means:
– Fewer choices on some short‑ and medium‑haul routes.
– Rolling schedule tweaks as airlines comply.
– A likely wave of app alerts and emails announcing changes.

International flights: the exemption

By contrast, the order includes an explicit exemption: international flights are not subject to the cuts. That includes transatlantic, transpacific, and other overseas routes.

• A person briefed on the order said, “international flights are exempt from the cuts.”
• United Airlines confirmed that “long‑haul international and hub‑to‑hub flights will not be impacted.”

This exemption reflects:
– The complex network of bilateral air agreements that govern international routes.
– Likely ongoing coordination between the FAA, foreign civil aviation authorities, and global carriers to keep international schedules steady.

Industry response and operational rebuild

Industry groups said they were still seeking details but would work to keep passengers moving.

• Airlines for America: “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 will use operations centers to rebuild daily plans around the new caps.
  • Rebuilding likely focuses on spreading out departures to ease peak congestion while protecting core network routes.

Customer protections and refunds

United addressed customer rights as changes take hold:
– Customers can obtain refunds for canceled flights, including basic economy and non‑refundable tickets.
– Updates will be provided through the airline app, email, and push notifications.
– That refund policy covers domestic cancellations prompted by the capacity cuts.

Other airlines are expected to issue similar guidance as they finalize revised schedules.

Timeline and implementation

• The FAA said the final list of affected airports and the full order, including operational details, was expected Thursday, November 6, 2025.
• The short lead time means airlines will implement changes as details are confirmed, with potential adjustments in the first days if:
  • Bottlenecks appear at certain hubs.
  • Smaller carriers with less‑than‑daily service need tailored relief.

According to VisaVerge.com analysis, carriers often shift spare aircraft and crews to support key routes in these situations, but flexibility is tighter in fall and early winter because of maintenance checks and holiday demand.

Effects on connections and hub operations

The international exemption provides stability for long‑haul services, but there are implications for connecting passengers:

• Passengers connecting from reduced or retimed U.S. feeder flights to international departures could face tighter connections.
• Airlines may respond by protecting banked connections around long‑haul departures, keeping those windows intact even as they trim point‑to‑point frequencies.
• Gate availability and crew positioning could still create knock‑on effects that need monitoring.

Safety rationale and scope

The FAA framed the order as a proactive safety step meant to lower the risk profile before pressure points lead to delays or incidents.

• Officials emphasized the system remains safe, but high traffic and tight staffing can strain operations at peak hours.
• The scaled reduction — starting at 4% and rising to as much as 10% — aims to reduce strain where it is highest.
• Unlike previous slot controls that targeted specific airports or hours, this order covers 40 major airports and a broad daytime window, spreading the impact rather than concentrating it.

Coordination with international authorities

Even though the FAA has not published a playbook, U.S. officials are expected to stay in close contact with foreign regulators and airlines to ensure schedules remain aligned.

• Monitoring will include potential ripple effects from domestic trims such as gate availability, turnaround times, and slot allocations.
• Airlines are syncing with airport authorities overseas to confirm turnaround times and slot stability for U.S.‑bound flights.

Advice for travelers

• Check schedules early and often, especially for domestic flights between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
• Expect airlines to update reservations and contact passengers with options.
• If you have fixed international connections:
  • Watch for timing shifts on U.S. segments.
  • Consider earlier departures to allow extra buffer time.
• If your flight is canceled, you can request a refund under airline policies and Department of Transportation standards.

Important: The Department of Transportation’s enforcement office has previously made clear that refund rules apply when an airline cancels a flight, and carriers say they will follow those standards here.

Airport operations and ground impact

Airports are coordinating with the FAA and airlines to spread out operations and reduce peak congestion.

• Ground handlers and air traffic managers at the affected airports will work to:
  • Smooth pushback times.
  • Manage gate holds.
• Expected benefits include fewer tarmac waits and steadier taxi times, supporting the FAA’s safety goals.

What comes next

• The FAA will release more details alongside the final order, including the full list of covered airports.
• The agency will evaluate the caps after implementation and may adjust if conditions improve or if certain markets face outsized strain.
• Any later change will likely follow the same safety‑first logic, with international routes kept intact under the current exemption.

The emergency order marks a rare split between domestic and international operations within the same network, reflecting where immediate relief will help most. By protecting long‑haul and hub‑to‑hub flying and keeping the international flights exemption, the FAA aims to maintain global links while easing load on crowded domestic corridors. Airlines will now test that balance in real time as they rebuild schedules and reposition crews and aircraft.

The FAA said travelers and industry stakeholders can monitor official updates on its website, where new directives and operational notices are posted. The agency’s newsroom hosts current policy statements, safety alerts, and orders, and will carry the final version of this directive once issued. For ongoing updates and the final order when released, visit the Federal Aviation Administration.