Transportation

FAA Cuts Flights at 40 Airports: What Travelers Need to Know

By Cameron Sperance Nov 6, 2025 10:30am

If it feels like the skies have been a little less friendly lately, there’s a reason. As the federal government shutdown drags on, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a rare, proactive directive: Beginning Friday, November 7, flight capacity will be reduced by 10% at 40 of the busiest U.S. airports. The move is designed to ease mounting fatigue and operational strain among unpaid air-traffic controllers — a safety measure with broad implications for travelers and travel advisors alike.

Why It Matters:

It’s the first time in decades the FAA has mandated such a nationwide capacity cut for safety rather than purely for weather or equipment issues.
Controllers are working mandatory overtime without pay, raising concerns about system resilience.
The trade-off: fewer flights, more sensitivity around scheduling and heightened disruption risk.

Airline Responses:

Delta Air Lines is complying, saying it will operate “the vast majority” of its flights, including all long-haul international routes, while offering free changes or refunds on all fares.
United Airlines is focusing cuts on regional and non-hub domestic flights, and says long-haul/hub-to-hub services will run normally; refunds will be available even for non-refundable tickets.
American Airlines is working to minimize disruption, emphasizing its flexible policies and coordination with the FAA directive.

U.S. Travel's Biggest Voice Weighs In:

Geoff Freeman, the CEO of the U.S. Travel Association — the sector's biggest trade voice — weighed in with a blistering attack on the government shutdown's prolonged stalemate on Capitol Hill: "The decision to reduce scheduled flight capacity, while necessary to keep our skies safe, will inevitably affect the travel experience, leading to fewer flights, longer delays and more disruptions for travelers. All government shutdowns are irresponsible and this decision underscores the urgent need to reopen the government. 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. The fault for this situation rests squarely at the feet of Congress."

For Travelers and Advisors:

Check flight status early and often: Reductions will roll in gradually over several days.
Allow extra time for connections, especially if your itinerary uses one of the impacted airports.
Have travel insurance or credit-card trip protection in your back pocket.
Travel advisors: Pre-empt disruption by re-routing through unaffected airports or carriers; communicate the airlines’ flexibility to your clients.

What’s Next:

International flights remain mostly unaffected — for now.
If the shutdown stretches further, the FAA has warned that deeper cuts or even temporary airspace closures could follow.
Travel advisors and operators must remain on alert: scheduling, staffing, airport congestion and client-experience risk all go up when foundational infrastructure is compromised.

Full List of Impacted Airports:

Anchorage – Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC)
Atlanta – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
Baltimore/Washington – Thurgood Marshall International (BWI)
Boston – Logan International (BOS)
Charlotte – Douglas International (CLT)
Chicago – Midway International (MDW)
Chicago – O’Hare International (ORD)
Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
Dallas – Love Field (DAL)
Dallas/Fort Worth – International Airport (DFW)
Denver – International Airport (DEN)
Detroit – Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International (FLL)
Honolulu – Daniel K. Inouye International (HNL)
Houston – George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)
Houston – William P. Hobby (HOU)
Indianapolis – International Airport (IND)
Las Vegas – Harry Reid International (LAS)
Los Angeles – International Airport (LAX)
Louisville – Muhammad Ali International (SDF)
Memphis – International Airport (MEM)
Miami – International Airport (MIA)
Minneapolis–St. Paul – International Airport (MSP)
New York – John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
New York – LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
Newark – Liberty International (EWR)
Oakland – International Airport (OAK)
Ontario (CA) – International Airport (ONT)
Orlando – International Airport (MCO)
Philadelphia – International Airport (PHL)
Phoenix – Sky Harbor International (PHX)
Portland – International Airport (PDX)
Salt Lake City – International Airport (SLC)
San Diego – International Airport (SAN)
San Francisco – International Airport (SFO)
Seattle/Tacoma – International Airport (SEA)
Tampa – International Airport (TPA)
Teterboro (NJ) – Airport (TEB)
Washington, D.C. – Reagan National (DCA)
Washington, D.C. – Dulles International (IAD)

Bottom Line:

We’ve hit a new inflection point in U.S. air travel. When safety becomes the guiding criteria for reducing capacity, the ripple effects are felt across every leg of the journey. Travel advisors and consumers alike must stay vigilant, stay flexible, and plan for contingencies until the shutdown ends and the system stabilizes.

This story will be updated as further details about the FAA directive emerge.