(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) Flights at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oakland International Airport (OAK) will be cut starting Friday, November 8, 2025, as the federal government shutdown forces the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to slow traffic at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports. The FAA plans to begin with about a 4% reduction Friday and scale to a full 10% cut next week, a move that will touch thousands of flights and hundreds of thousands of passengers across the United States 🇺🇸.
The change lands hardest on regional and domestic routes, while long-haul international flights are expected to keep running. Bay Area airports are preparing for cancellations and delays as airlines push rebookings to ease the strain.
Why the cuts are happening
The FAA says the reductions are driven by severe staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay since the shutdown began on October 1. Officials have not issued a final, formal order, but SFO and OAK are confirmed on the proposed list, joining other California hubs such as Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), and San Diego (SAN).
According to airport and airline briefings, the first wave of passenger notifications began Thursday, November 7, with more notices expected as final schedules get pulled down and reissued.
Airline responses and protections for passengers
United Airlines, the largest carrier at SFO, told employees in a memo dated November 5 that the airline would protect its core global and hub-to-hub schedule.
“Long-haul international flying and our hub-to-hub flying” will remain unaffected, United CEO Scott Kirby said.
This signals reductions will focus on shorter domestic and regional routes, where the FAA can space out aircraft with less disruption to international connectivity. Travelers on cross-country or global trips may still face delays but are less likely to see outright cancellations compared with those on shorter hops.
Oakland officials said they were bracing for changes but would keep operations staffed as normal for now. “As we await more information from the FAA, OAK will continue to operate at full staffing levels while also preparing for any changes to operations,” airport spokesperson Kaley Skantz said.
Key traveler guidance from airports and airlines:
– Check airline apps and emails for updates.
– Be ready to accept rebooking options as carriers rework schedules.
– Keep travel documents and essentials in carry-on in case of changes.
Refunds, waivers and travel flexibility
Major carriers have rolled out waivers to ease the impact:
– United: Permits refunds even on nonrefundable tickets if customers choose not to travel on affected flights.
– Delta, Southwest, American: Announced rebooking and refund options (details vary by route and fare).
– Frontier CEO Barry Biffle urged flexible planning: buy changeable fares or keep credits when possible.
“Make sure you buy a backup that is changeable into a credit or full refund. If you don’t need the insurance, keep the credit for your next flight. Apologies for the disruption. This will be necessary until the government shutdown is ended to ensure safety for all travelers, given reduced staffing levels with ATC.”
Which flights are most affected
- Most impacted: Regional and point-to-point domestic services, especially on smaller carriers and regional jets.
- Less affected: Long-haul international flights and hub-to-hub services (carriers aim to protect these).
- How changes will be applied:
- 4% reduction starts Friday, November 8.
- 10% cap is expected to take effect next week.
- Airlines will reissue schedules and notify passengers; additional pruning may follow.
Airport officials are coordinating with airlines to keep passengers updated through terminal announcements, social feeds, and gate agents, but direct airline alerts will be the most current source.
Safety rationale and FAA guidance
The FAA frames the cuts as a safety measure, noting controllers need adequate staffing and rest to manage congested airspace. During a lapse in appropriations, staffing is limited to work considered essential for safety, even as pay is delayed. See the FAA’s overview of operations during funding lapses here: https://www.faa.gov/about/plans_reports/appropriations_lapse.
Operational ripple effects
The nationwide impact of reduced controller staffing includes:
– Fewer slots and tighter sequencing of arrivals/departures.
– Airlines jockeying for limited capacity, which can push crews out of position and force cancellations.
– Airport teams juggling gate assignments, baggage flows, and customer support for rebooked flights.
Local economic impacts:
– Hotels, restaurants, shops, and ride-share drivers may see reduced demand if the shutdown continues.
– Cargo schedules could be adjusted but core freight routes often receive protection.
At the same time, some passengers who do fly may experience a calmer terminal due to reduced congestion.
What travelers should do
- Expect rolling changes: Airlines began pushing text and email updates on Thursday, November 7 and will continue to tweak schedules.
- Check apps frequently; the first to respond to rebooking offers usually has the best options.
- Pack essentials in carry-on (medications, chargers) in case of long waits.
- Allow extra time at the airport for check-in and security.
- Monitor airline communications even after receiving earlier “on-time” confirmations — last-minute changes remain possible.
How airlines are managing the cuts
Airlines aim to spread cancellations across their networks rather than canceling whole time blocks to:
– Avoid overwhelming customer service areas.
– Keep hub spines and high-demand segments operating.
– Offer shifts (e.g., one-hour changes) or later flights where possible.
Refund and rebooking options are generally more generous than usual for changes driven by the airlines.
Outlook and uncertainty
- The FAA’s staged approach (4% then 10%) is designed to give carriers and airports time to adapt.
- If the shutdown persists and controller staffing remains low, the reductions could remain in place for longer.
- The agency has not indicated plans to exceed the 10% figure on the current list of 40 airports and has not provided firm timelines; much depends on when federal pay resumes.
Final advice and on-the-ground response
By Thursday night, passengers at SFO and OAK were already rebooking, driving to regional airports, or using travel credits. The consistent advice from airlines and airport officials is:
- Keep your phone charged.
- Check your airline app often.
- Act quickly when rebooking options appear — with reduced seats, early responders find the best alternatives.
With fewer flights to go around, being proactive will significantly improve the chances of maintaining your travel plans.
This Article in a Nutshell
The FAA will impose staged flight reductions at SFO and OAK starting November 8, 2025, with a 4% cut rising to 10% next week due to air traffic controller staffing shortages amid the federal shutdown since October 1. The reductions primarily affect regional and domestic routes while long-haul international and hub-to-hub flights remain protected. Airlines including United, Delta, Southwest and American introduced waivers, refunds and rebooking options; passengers should monitor airline alerts, pack essentials in carry-on, and act quickly on rebooking offers.
