FAA imposes phased 4-10% flight cuts at 40 airports due to shutdown

(UNITED STATES) The FAA announced phased flight cuts at 40 major U.S. airports starting November 7, 2025, citing air traffic controller staffing shortfalls tied to the ongoing government shutdown. The order, described by agency leaders as unprecedented, begins with a 4% reduction in scheduled domestic flights on November 7 and ramps up to 10% by November 14, affecting thousands of flights each day between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. local time. International flights are exempt. Airlines were told to trim schedules and file daily lists of reduced operations with FAA Slot Administration or face penalties. The step is aimed at easing pressure on a strained National Airspace System while keeping safety at the center of operations.

Why the FAA acted now

At a press conference, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford framed the move as a necessary but difficult measure to prevent fatigue and operational stress from tipping into risk.

“Our sole role is to make sure that we keep this airspace as safe as possible,” Bedford said. “Reduction in capacity at 40 of our locations. This is not based on light airline travel locations. This is about where the pressure is and how to really deviate the pressure.”
He added that in his 35-year career, he had “never seen this happen” before, highlighting the unusual nature of a nationwide, agency-mandated schedule reduction outside of severe weather or localized emergencies.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reinforced the message, emphasizing preemptive action:

“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. We will delay, we will cancel flights to make sure people are safe.”

The FAA linked the reductions directly to the government shutdown’s impact on staffing, noting controllers have worked without pay since October 3, producing rising absences and fatigue in unpredictable patterns.

Phased cap schedule and enforcement

The order phases in caps in four steps:

1. 4% on November 7
2. 6% on November 11
3. 8% on November 13
4. 10% on November 14 and onward, until further notice

Airlines must submit daily lists documenting compliance to FAA Slot Administration. Key enforcement points:

• Civil penalties up to $75,000 per flight above the cap for large carriers
• $16,630 per flight penalty for small businesses that exceed limits
• International flights are excluded, but the FAA reserved the right to direct specific cancellations if impacts become skewed in certain markets or time periods
• The FAA will monitor carriers for anticompetitive behavior during the emergency period

Which airports and why

The list covers the busiest hubs where demand and controller workload are highest during restricted hours. Examples include:

• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
• Boston Logan
• New York’s three major airports
• Chicago O’Hare
• Los Angeles International
• Dallas-Fort Worth
• Miami International

The FAA said the full roster appears in Appendix A of the formal order. Officials emphasized the cuts are targeted “about where the pressure is,” not distributed for optics.

Airline and industry response

Early airline actions and statements show a mix of compliance and attempts to protect long-haul passengers:

• American Airlines: Reduced about 220 flights across the 40 airports between Friday and Monday to align with initial requirements.
• United Airlines: Stated that “long-haul international and hub-to-hub flights will not be impacted,” and promised refunds on any canceled flights, including basic economy and non-refundable tickets.
• Airlines for America: Members 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.”

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, refund policies could soften impacts for domestic travelers, but rebooking options may tighten as caps increase.

Cargo and supply-chain concerns

Although caps target passenger flights, many large hubs handle significant cargo operations. The FAA order covers airports with substantial freight footprints (e.g., Memphis International, New York JFK), raising concerns about holiday supply chains.

• Ed Anderson (University of Texas): “The busiest shopping days of the year are Black Friday and Cyber Monday — this could really hit Christmas sales.”
• Varun Gupta (University of North Georgia): Warned of delays for medications and legal documents that rely on predictable air schedules.

Potential freight responses:

• Retailers may shift more inventory to truck transport earlier to hedge against flight cuts.
• Experts predict the softest goods (electronics, apparel) may tolerate slower shipping; critical shipments (medication, documents) face higher risk.

Inside air traffic operations

Controllers have continued reporting to work during the shutdown, but unpaid status and staffing shortages have produced growing fatigue and a jump in last-minute absences, the FAA said.

• The FAA expects the caps to reduce compression (stacking of arrivals and departures) and create buffers when delays expand.
• Officials compared the approach to easing freeway traffic before gridlock forms, aiming to keep safety margins without last-minute triage.

Oversight, coordination, and antitrust carveout

To prevent disproportionate harm and allow carriers to comply, the FAA established expanded oversight and coordination measures:

• FAA retains authority to require targeted cancellations if patterns show an uneven burden.
• The Department of Justice agreed not to pursue antitrust enforcement for airline coordination strictly tied to the emergency reduction plan.
• The carveout allows limited collaboration among carriers to manage schedules during the phased rollout, while still surveilling for anticompetitive conduct beyond the plan’s scope.

Guidance for travelers and shippers

Travelers should expect changes through mid-November and take these steps:

• Check flight status frequently.
• Be prepared for consolidated flights, shifted departure times, or cancellations during 6:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. local time.
• Accept waivers, credits, or refunds; United has pledged refunds even for basic economy and non-refundable fares.
• International long-haul flights remain exempt, but domestic connecting segments may be canceled or retimed.

Shippers should:

• Monitor carrier advisories and adjust logistics plans.
• Consider earlier trucking of inventory for holiday replenishment.
• Prioritize critical shipments and explore alternate routing or carrier options.

Contact and compliance channels

The FAA will keep the order in effect “until canceled” and expects to roll back restrictions once funding and staffing stabilize. For industry compliance questions, the FAA listed:

• Contact: Al Meilus, ATO System Operations Services
• Phone: (202) 267-2822
• Email: [email protected]

Airlines must submit daily lists of reductions to help the FAA spot imbalances and allow targeted adjustments.

Longer-term workforce concerns

Aviation groups worry about systemic issues that left the system vulnerable:

• Controller training pipelines are lengthy; hiring and certification take time.
• The shutdown paused pay and exacerbated staffing fragility.
• Bedford emphasized that a short-term capacity pullback is preferable to a brittle schedule that could snap during peak hours, risking mistakes in complex airspace.

For official updates, travelers and shippers can monitor FAA advisories and bulletins at FAA.gov.

What to watch next

• Airlines expected to finalize next reductions ahead of November 11 (the 6% step).
• More aggressive network reshaping likely by November 13–14 as caps rise to 8% and 10%.
• FAA will monitor for disproportionate impacts and can direct specific cancellations to address them.
• Community leaders and smaller cities served by major hubs are watching for potential isolation if frequencies are cut unevenly.

For now, the FAA, carriers, and airport operators are working day to day to keep the system moving while the shutdown continues and fatigue pressures remain front of mind across towers, approach controls, and en route centers. The agency stresses that safety is the guiding principle behind trimming schedules until staffing stabilizes.