(UNITED STATES) Frontier Airlines’ chief executive urged passengers to buy a second ticket as a safety net as the United States nears sweeping reductions in flights at some of its busiest airports amid the ongoing government shutdown.
“If your flight is cancelled your chances of being stranded are high so I would simply have a backup ticket on another airline,” said Barry Biffle, the CEO of Frontier Airlines, warning travelers to prepare for disruption that could ripple across the country for days.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it will impose a 10% reduction in air traffic at 40 of the nation’s largest airports beginning Friday if Congress does not reach a deal to end the government shutdown. The cut, aimed at easing pressure on short-staffed air traffic control facilities, would affect departures and arrivals across multiple regions and is designed to prevent wider breakdowns in the system. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said the strain on the workforce has been building as controllers go more than a month without full pay.
“We are starting to see some evidence that fatigue is building in the system in ways that we feel we need to work towards relieving some of that pressure,” he said, adding that call-outs and staffing gaps have increased enough to force preemptive cuts.
Airlines have already begun shaping plans to absorb the blow. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told employees that United would focus its cuts on regional United Express flights and flights that do not involve travel between United hubs, while long-haul international and hub-to-hub flights would be preserved. United said it would notify customers about cancellations through its app, website, and push notifications, and would try to rebook as many flyers as possible. The choices suggest United is trying to protect its core network and transoceanic routes while scaling back thinner regional services where alternatives are more limited.
American Airlines said it would “proactively reach out” to affected passengers and “do our best to notify customers as early as possible,” signaling that it, too, will lean on early alerts and rebooking to blunt the impact. The assurances reflect a scramble by carriers to manage expectations in the face of a federal directive that is both broad and blunt. A 10% cap across 40 large airports means fewer available slots each hour and fewer options for airlines to shift aircraft and crews when problems hit, which is why Biffle’s warning about a “backup ticket” resonated with travelers wary of being marooned.
As of Wednesday, airlines said 3.4 million travelers had already faced cancellations or delays tied to staffing challenges at the FAA. That figure, reported by carriers as the shutdown wears on, shows the scale of disruption even before the 10% cuts take effect. The longer planes and crews fall out of their schedules, the harder it becomes to put them back in place, and the slower the system recovers. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, offered a stark outlook for anyone hoping things will quickly return to normal once Congress resolves the impasse.
“It’s going to take weeks to recover,” he said, warning that backlogs and fatigue will linger even after pay and staffing stabilize.
For travelers, the practical advice has turned unusually concrete. Experts say passengers should keep a close watch on airline apps and emails for schedule changes, book nonstop flights where possible, and opt for longer layovers if a connection is unavoidable. They also suggest using credit cards that include travel insurance for potential reimbursement of extra costs if plans unravel, and enrolling in expedited screening programs to cut time in long lines when reduced staffing spills into the airport experience. Behind those suggestions is the reality that a system operating with less slack leaves little room for personal schedules to flex when a flight goes late or never leaves at all.
The Department of Transportation’s refund rules give customers some leverage if their plans are upended. Under federal policy, passengers whose flights are canceled or significantly delayed are entitled to a cash refund if they choose not to travel. United said any passenger who prefers not to fly would be eligible for a refund, even for flights not directly affected by the cuts, a gesture that could help move willing travelers onto other services and free up seats for those who must go. The DOT’s guidance is outlined on its refund policy page, which explains when and how airlines must return money rather than offer credits or vouchers.
The blame game has already started in Washington and across the travel industry as the shutdown drags on. Geoff Freeman, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said the political stalemate is doing broad damage well beyond airline balance sheets.
“The shutdown is putting unnecessary strain on the system, forcing difficult operational decisions that disrupt travel and damage confidence in the U.S. air travel experience,” he said.
Confidence is a precious commodity in aviation. When passengers worry that their plans are shaky, they delay trips, avoid connections they might otherwise take, or purchase extra protections like a backup ticket. The ripple effect can hit hotels, restaurants, conferences, and the wider economy that depends on predictable air links.
Frontier’s Biffle took that calculation to its logical conclusion, urging flyers to pay for a spare seat on another carrier in case their original flight disappears. For many, that means tying up hundreds of dollars they may or may not get back depending on fare rules and cancellation timing. Yet his plain-spoken advice reflects a grim, short-term math as the government shutdown throws schedules into doubt. Airlines, bound by the FAA’s 10% cap, can only work within the slots allowed, and they cannot conjure rested controllers or fully staffed facilities while the shutdown continues.
The planned reduction is not uniform across all services, and carriers are trying to hold together the routes that knit their networks. United’s plan to shelter long-haul international flights and hub-to-hub services underscores the strategic importance of those corridors, which feed connecting traffic and support cargo that moves on tight timelines. In contrast, regional flights often rely on smaller crews and airports with fewer resources, making them more vulnerable to cuts when space is rationed. That mix is likely to shape where pain is felt first: travelers in smaller cities could see fewer options, while major hubs may endure longer waits between departures.
If the shutdown ends, the system will not immediately bounce back to normal. Fatigue among frontline staff takes time to ease, aircraft and crews have to be repositioned, and a backlog of displaced passengers needs to be cleared. Daniels’ warning that “It’s going to take weeks to recover” reflects the experience of past shocks when schedules took multiple cycles to stabilize. Even then, weather or technical glitches can compound the problems, which is why airlines are promising frequent updates and earlier notices when they expect to cancel.
Passengers are also weighing whether early refunds and changes make more sense than waiting to see if their flights operate. The DOT’s rules make clear that when an airline cancels or significantly delays a flight, customers are entitled to a refund if they don’t fly, a point advocates have emphasized as carriers reshape their timetables. For those who choose to press ahead, a backup ticket can serve as a plan B if an itinerary is pulled at the last minute. Some flyers are booking refundable fares or using points for the second reservation to avoid out-of-pocket losses if both flights operate as scheduled.
Biffle’s stark message underscores how quickly conditions can change as the FAA calibrates the 10% cap and carriers fine-tune their schedules. While Frontier Airlines competes directly with the larger network carriers, the logic of his advice cuts across the market: in a constrained system, travelers have less control once cancellations cascade. United’s approach to protect long-haul and hub connectors, and American’s promise to “proactively reach out” and “do our best to notify customers as early as possible,” show airlines bracing for a week of hard choices about where to deploy aircraft and crews. Those choices will be dictated by the FAA’s limits and by the government shutdown’s duration.
For now, the most decisive factor lies on Capitol Hill. If Congress restores funding and operations, the 10% cut slated for Friday could be avoided, or at least shortened. If the impasse holds, the FAA will pare back flights at 40 major airports, airlines will trim schedules beyond what they prefer, and travelers will face a bumpy stretch when even a well-planned day can come undone. In that environment, the advice to keep a close eye on airline alerts, consider longer layovers, and—if budgets allow—secure a backup ticket captures the reality of flying through a system under strain.
This Article in a Nutshell
The FAA will impose a 10% traffic reduction at 40 major U.S. airports beginning Friday if the government shutdown persists, citing controller fatigue and staffing gaps after unpaid work stretches. Airlines are adjusting schedules—United prioritizes long-haul and hub routes while cutting regional services; American will notify and rebook customers proactively. Carriers report 3.4 million travelers already affected by staffing disruptions. Officials and union leaders warn recovery could take weeks; travelers should monitor alerts, choose nonstop or longer connections, and consider backup tickets or refundable fares.
