U.S. to Slash Ten Per Cent of Flights at Forty Major Airports as Shutdown Enters Third Month
Federal Aviation Administration orders significant flight reductions citing controller fatigue and operational strain in ‘exceptional’ move
The United States will reduce scheduled flights by ten per cent at forty of its busiest airports starting Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced, as the nation’s historic government shutdown enters its thirty‐sixth day.
The move comes amid mounting concern over fatigue and absenteeism among air traffic controllers, many of whom have been working without pay.
Sean P. Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary, and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said that the reductions will begin at around four per cent on Friday, rise to five per cent on Saturday and six per cent on Sunday, and reach ten per cent next week if the shutdown persists.
The Air Traffic Control workforce, already short by approximately 3,500 positions, faces large levels of absenteeism and overtime, especially at high‐traffic facilities.
The airports expected to be affected include major hubs such as New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Dallas.
Analytics from aviation data firm Cirium estimate the cuts could eliminate up to 1,800 flights and 268,000 seats in a single day.
While international flights will initially be exempt, domestic passenger, cargo and general-aviation traffic will be constrained.
Officials emphasised that the step is about preserving safety rather than responding to a specific incident.
Bedford noted that internal fatigue-reports and staffing data indicated emerging “pressure building” in the system.
Duffy said the reductions are intended to ease load on controllers and underscore the urgency of resolving the shutdown.
Airlines with large domestic networks—including United Airlines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines—have begun identifying non-hub and regional routes for possible schedule cuts and prepared for passenger refund policies.
They have urged Congress to reopen the government to avoid wider disruption.
The decision arrives just ahead of the holiday travel season, when traveller volumes normally surge.
With the shutdown showing no sign of immediate resolution, further cuts—or even partial airspace shutdowns—could follow if staffing shortfalls persist and safety risks rise.
The move comes amid mounting concern over fatigue and absenteeism among air traffic controllers, many of whom have been working without pay.
Sean P. Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary, and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said that the reductions will begin at around four per cent on Friday, rise to five per cent on Saturday and six per cent on Sunday, and reach ten per cent next week if the shutdown persists.
The Air Traffic Control workforce, already short by approximately 3,500 positions, faces large levels of absenteeism and overtime, especially at high‐traffic facilities.
The airports expected to be affected include major hubs such as New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Dallas.
Analytics from aviation data firm Cirium estimate the cuts could eliminate up to 1,800 flights and 268,000 seats in a single day.
While international flights will initially be exempt, domestic passenger, cargo and general-aviation traffic will be constrained.
Officials emphasised that the step is about preserving safety rather than responding to a specific incident.
Bedford noted that internal fatigue-reports and staffing data indicated emerging “pressure building” in the system.
Duffy said the reductions are intended to ease load on controllers and underscore the urgency of resolving the shutdown.
Airlines with large domestic networks—including United Airlines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines—have begun identifying non-hub and regional routes for possible schedule cuts and prepared for passenger refund policies.
They have urged Congress to reopen the government to avoid wider disruption.
The decision arrives just ahead of the holiday travel season, when traveller volumes normally surge.
With the shutdown showing no sign of immediate resolution, further cuts—or even partial airspace shutdowns—could follow if staffing shortfalls persist and safety risks rise.
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