FAA Cuts Flights at 40 Airports Amid 2025 Government Shutdown
As the US government shutdown of 2025 extends into its sixth week on November 7, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun reducing flights at 40 major airports. This move responds to severe staffing shortages in air traffic control, forcing a 10% cut in operations to reduce controller fatigue.
Impact on Passengers and Airports
Over 790 flights were removed from schedules on the first day, leaving up to 268,000 passengers stranded daily. This reduction has raised concerns about holiday travel delays and widespread airline cancellations during 2025.
Affected Airports
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Denver International (DEN)
- Los Angeles International (LAX)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
- New York area: JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR)
- Houston area: George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), Hobby (HOU)
- Chicago area: O'Hare (ORD), Midway (MDW)
- Washington area: Ronald Reagan (DCA), Dulles (IAD)
FAA Flight Reductions Schedule
The FAA started with a 4% reduction on November 7 at 6 a.m., escalating to a full 10% cut by November 14 to manage air traffic controller workloads effectively.
"The aviation safety risks crisis, born of mandatory unpaid overtime for controllers working six days weekly, ripples through economic impacts shutdown, from stalled package deliveries to upended business meetings."
Wider Consequences and Airline Responses
The shortage of controllers working mandatory unpaid overtime contributes to safety risks, while the flight cuts affect not only travelers but also disrupt cargo deliveries and business schedules. Airlines and travelers must adapt survival strategies to navigate these disruptions.
Author's summary: The 2025 US government shutdown causes significant FAA flight reductions at 40 airports, resulting in major passenger disruptions and risks to aviation safety amid controller shortages.