FAA orders phased flight cuts at 40 U.S. airports as government shutdown disrupts air travel

Millions of travelers are facing a choppy weekend after the Federal Aviation Administration directed airlines to trim schedules at 40 high-traffic U.S. airports starting Friday, November 7, at 6:00 a.m. ET. The initial reduction is 4% through Monday, with a deeper 10% cut slated to begin November 14 if the shutdown persists. The move is designed to preserve safety margins amid air traffic control staffing shortfalls during the federal government shutdown.

What the FAA flight reductions mean today

Airlines have begun canceling and consolidating flights in the affected markets, with same-day rebooking where seats are available. Carriers say they are prioritizing safety and on-time operations on core routes while trimming frequencies and some off-peak legs. While international schedules are expected to continue largely as planned, domestic operations at the 40 airports will see fewer takeoffs and landings during the order.

The Transportation Department and FAA leadership emphasized the cuts are preventative and temporary, intended to reduce controller workload until staffing stabilizes. Officials also indicated space launches will face added restrictions during the period.

Airports most impacted by the FAA cuts

The 40-airport list concentrates on the nation’s busiest hubs and metro areas. Among those seeing schedule reductions starting this weekend:

• New York City: JFK, LaGuardia, Newark

• Boston: Logan

• Philadelphia (PHL)

• Washington region airports

• Chicago: O’Hare and Midway

• Dallas–Fort Worth and Dallas Love Field

• Denver (DEN)

• Atlanta (ATL)

• Charlotte (CLT)

• Orlando (MCO)

• Miami (MIA)

• Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO)

• Additional high-volume markets across the West, Midwest, and Sun Belt

Exact day-by-day impacts vary by airport and airline. Early Friday tallies showed hundreds of cancellations and widespread delays, with some Northeast and West Coast hubs experiencing longer departure holds during peak banks.

Airline responses: waivers, refunds, and schedule trims

Major U.S. carriers—American, Delta, United, Southwest, and others—have activated flexible travel policies for customers booked to, from, or through the affected airports during the initial 4% cut. Common measures include:

• Fee-free changes for most fare types (including many basic economy tickets) within a defined travel window.

• Rebooking on the next available flight, often at no additional cost, when cancellations occur.

• Refund eligibility when a flight is canceled or significantly changed.

• Targeted schedule reductions that consolidate lightly booked flights while preserving essential connectivity.

American said its FAA-required reductions equate to roughly 220 canceled flights per day during the 4% phase while still operating around 6,000 daily flights systemwide. Other carriers are publishing rolling updates as they rebank operations for the weekend and the week ahead.

Key timelines and what’s next

• Through Monday, November 10 (ET): 4% reduction at the 40 airports.

• Starting Friday, November 14: 10% reduction at the same airports if the shutdown continues.

• Duration: Officials have not given an end date. If the shutdown is resolved, airlines will still need time to restore full schedules and crew positioning.

Airlines are coordinating with airport operations and security teams to smooth passenger flows. Even so, travelers should anticipate longer lines at checkpoints in some cities and cascading delays where weather intersects with reduced capacity.

Traveler checklist for the shutdown flight cuts

• Check status early and often. Monitor your reservation in your airline’s app the moment you wake up and again before heading to the airport.

• Use the waiver. If your plans are flexible, move your trip to off-peak hours or alternate days covered by your carrier’s policy.

• Consider nearby airports. In multi-airport regions (e.g., New York, Washington, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco), look at options across the system—your airline may offer no-cost reroutes.

• Carry-on strategy. Traveling with carry-on only improves odds of successful same-day reaccommodation if a cancellation hits.

• Build buffer time. Leave additional time for TSA screening and potential gate/crew swaps, especially at the 40 affected airports.

• Know your rights. If an airline cancels your flight, you’re generally entitled to a refund if you choose not to travel.

The FAA’s phased capacity cuts are now in effect across 40 major airports, with a steeper round looming on November 14 if the government shutdown remains unresolved. Expect weekend disruptions to concentrate at the busiest hubs—New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Dallas–Fort Worth, Denver, Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco—and ripple across connecting routes. Airlines have activated broad waivers and are urging customers to manage trips through their apps for the fastest rebooking options. Travelers who can shift plans by a day or two are most likely to avoid the brunt of the cancellations in the days ahead.