40 major U.S. airports to see flight reductions due to government shutdown

40 U.S. airports, including those in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, will see flight reductions starting November 7 due to the government shutdown.

40 U.S. airports, including those in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, will see flight reductions starting November 7 due to the government shutdown, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On Wednesday, November 5, the agency announced that air traffic will be reduced by 10% across 40 high-volume markets to maintain travel safety amid the shortage of air traffic controllers.

Currently, air traffic controllers are working without pay during the government shutdown, with many increasingly absent due to the lack of compensation. Controllers have already missed a full paycheck and are expected to go unpaid again next week as the shutdown continues to drag on.

Shortage of air traffic controllers results in flight reductions

Numerous flights have already been delayed by the FAA at airports and other facilities lacking controllers. The official announcement states that starting November 6, passengers will be notified of upcoming cancellations. Airlines have said they will try to minimize the impact on customers whose flights may be affected, with some recommending travelers purchase backup tickets with other carriers.

According to data shared by TransportTopics, aviation analysis company Cirium predicts the cancellation of thousands of flights, with cuts potentially reaching 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 seats.

Although the announcement has sparked some controversy, the FAA has made it clear that the move is intended to support air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay since the government shutdown began on October 1. Most have been required to work mandatory overtime six days a week, leaving them little time to take on additional jobs to cover their expenses.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that chaos in the skies could ensue if the shutdown continues long enough for air traffic controllers to miss their second full paycheck next week. He announced on November 6 that he would meet with airline executives to determine how to implement the reductions safely.

Major airlines, aviation unions, and the travel industry at large have been urging Congress to end the shutdown, which on November 6 became the longest in history.

According to an Associated Press analysis of operational plans shared through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center, between October 31 and November 2, at least 39 air traffic control facilities reported possible staffing shortages, a figure well above the average for weekends prior to the shutdown.

AP has published the list of 40 airports and facilities that will experience flight reductions starting November 7.