THE Federal Aviation Administration has mandated a 4% reduction in flights at 40 major US airports on Friday due to the ongoing government shutdown, marking an unprecedented intervention in commercial air travel.
Reuters reported today that the cuts, which include approximately 700 flights from American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and United, are set to rise to 6% by Tuesday and 10% by November 14 if the shutdown continues. International flights remain unaffected.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that reductions could reach 20% if air traffic controller absenteeism worsens. “I assess the data. We're going to make decisions based on what we see in the airspace,” Duffy said, highlighting the safety risks posed by staff shortages.
Air traffic controller absences have already caused extensive delays, affecting more than 5,300 flights by early evening at airports including Atlanta, San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and Newark. At Reagan Washington National, delays averaged four hours, with 17% of flights cancelled and nearly 40% delayed.
“During the record 38-day government shutdown, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been forced to work without pay, leading to increased absenteeism,” the FAA said. Many controllers were notified they would receive no pay for a second pay period next week.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said initial disruptions were manageable but warned of growing impacts over time.
“This level of cancellation is going to grow over time and that's something that is going to be problematic,” he told CNBC.
American cancelled 220 flights on Friday, affecting 12,000 passengers, though most were re-routed within a few hours. United Airlines reported similar rebooking rates, cancelling 184 flights on Friday with further reductions planned over the weekend.
Duffy emphasised that safety concerns were driving the phased cuts, citing incidents of planes not maintaining separation and ground incursions. The FAA is also limiting space launches and may reduce private plane flights at high-traffic airports.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the shutdown’s impact on travel, posting a photo of a crowded flight board with the caption: “The GOP shutdown has grounded America — just in time for the holidays!” - November 8, 2025
