FAA Reduces Flights at 40 Airports Amid 2025 Shutdown
As the United States government shutdown of 2025 enters its sixth week on November 7, the Federal Aviation Administration has announced significant flight reductions across 40 major airports. The decision is a direct response to severe air traffic controller shortages and aims to reduce fatigue among overworked staff.
The FAA plans to cut operations by 10 percent nationwide, resulting in a loss of approximately 790 scheduled flights per day. This disruption is affecting nearly 268,000 passengers daily, sparking concerns about widespread holiday travel delays and increased airline cancellations.
“The aviation safety crisis stems from mandatory unpaid overtime for controllers working six days a week,” an internal FAA report noted.
The cuts began on November 7 with a 4 percent reduction and are expected to reach 10 percent by November 14, concentrated during early-morning departure windows. The order covers high-traffic airports across more than two dozen states.
Airports Most Affected
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Denver International (DEN)
- Los Angeles International (LAX)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
- New York hubs: JFK, LaGuardia (LGA), Newark (EWR)
- Houston airports: George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), Hobby (HOU)
- Chicago airports: O'Hare (ORD), Midway (MDW)
- Washington airports: Reagan National (DCA), Dulles International (IAD)
The ripple effects extend beyond tourism. Shipping delays and canceled business trips are contributing to broader economic disruptions, adding pressure to resolve the ongoing shutdown.
Author’s Summary
The FAA’s flight cuts at major U.S. airports reflect deepening travel and economic fallout from the prolonged 2025 government shutdown.