FAA’s 10% Flight Cuts Hit 40 Major Airports: What Travelers Need to Know

FAA Announces Sweeping Flight Reductions Amid Government Shutdown

For millions of Americans gearing up for travel, the news could not come at a worse time. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced this week that it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 of the nation’s busiest airports, effective Friday, if the government shutdown persists. This measure, unprecedented in scale, is designed to cope with a mounting shortage of air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay for more than a month.

The ripple effects are already being felt. Flight delays have stacked up, and airports from coast to coast are bracing for disruption. According to CBS News, the list of affected airports spans every major region: Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, and Washington D.C. all feature prominently. Even key cargo and private jet hubs like Memphis, Louisville, Anchorage, and Teterboro are included.

Which Airports Will Be Hit?

The proposed list, obtained by CBS News, reads like a who’s who of American aviation. Travelers flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles International, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York’s JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty can expect cancellations and delays. Washington’s three airports—Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), Ronald Reagan National (DCA), and Dulles International (IAD)—are also on the chopping block. The FAA has not finalized the list, but industry insiders expect little change before the cuts take effect.

Here are just a few of the airports facing reductions:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
• Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
• New York John F Kennedy International (JFK)
• Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
• Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
• Washington Dulles International (IAD)
• Miami International (MIA)
• San Francisco International (SFO)

The full list includes 40 airports, covering not just passenger giants but also vital cargo and private aviation centers.

Why Are These Cuts Happening?

At the heart of the crisis is a simple but stark reality: air traffic controllers are stretched thin. With the government shutdown now in its 36th day, these essential workers are keeping the skies safe while missing paychecks. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explained in a press conference that the FAA’s decision was driven by a surge in sick calls and mounting fatigue among controllers. Some are even taking side jobs to make ends meet—a risky proposition when safety is paramount.

“What we’re finding is, our air traffic controllers, because of the financial pressures at home, are taking side jobs. … I do not want them to take side jobs, I want them to show up for work,” Duffy said. The FAA’s own data shows rising stress and exhaustion levels, threatening the reliability of air traffic control at busy hubs.

In addition, the shutdown’s impact is not limited to air traffic controllers. TSA agents, also working without pay, have been calling in sick at higher rates, leading to marathon security lines. At Houston’s Bush Intercontinental, for example, passengers faced three-hour waits last Sunday.

How Will This Affect Travelers and Airlines?

The uncertainty is palpable. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told employees that domestic flights will bear the brunt of the cuts, while long-haul international and hub-to-hub flights are mostly spared. Airlines are scrambling to adjust schedules, promising travelers “several days’ advance notice” of cancellations—but in practice, many will learn of disrupted plans with little warning.

The Department of Transportation aims to spread the pain evenly, so no single airport or airline faces an outsized impact. Yet, in practice, airlines with major hubs in affected airports—think American in Phoenix and D.C., United in Dulles, Southwest in Baltimore—will feel the pinch most acutely.

“This shutdown has injected a high level of uncertainty into everyone’s travels. It’s shutdown delay roulette,” CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave told WTOP. No one can predict exactly when or where the worst delays will hit.

For travelers, the advice is clear: check your flight status early and often. Expect notifications of cancellations, and be ready for longer lines at both check-in and security. Rebooking may be possible, but with tens of thousands of flights affected, options will be limited.

Industry Response and What Comes Next

Airlines and travel industry leaders are united in their calls for a swift end to the shutdown. The financial cost of widespread cancellations is staggering—each grounded flight can mean thousands in lost revenue. As the Thanksgiving travel season approaches, industry insiders warn that the situation could deteriorate further if the shutdown drags on.

The FAA has promised to monitor staffing and stress levels among controllers daily. Once conditions improve, normal flight schedules could resume—but until then, travelers and airlines must adapt to a new, more unpredictable reality.

For now, the only certainty is uncertainty. Whether you’re flying for business, family, or holiday, the best advice is to stay informed, be flexible, and prepare for delays that may last until the government reopens and normal staffing resumes.

Analysis: The FAA’s decision to cut flights at 40 major airports is a rare, forceful response to a crisis of staffing and exhaustion. By prioritizing safety, regulators are acknowledging the limits of an overstretched system—and forcing the industry, and the public, to confront the cascading costs of government paralysis. As the shutdown continues, every canceled flight is a reminder that even the most sophisticated systems depend on the people behind the scenes.