Shutdown Woes: FAA to Reduce Air Traffic by 10% this Weekend

‍DALLAS — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Wednesday that it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets beginning Friday morning in response to the ongoing government shutdown and nationwide staffing shortages among air traffic controllers.

Reason for the Reduction

The decision was prompted by a rise in air traffic controller absences, as many have been working without pay, and some are calling out during the shutdown, which started on October 1, 2025. This has resulted in increasing flight delays and staffing pressures at airports nationwide. 

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized that the agency is acting preemptively to maintain safety, not waiting for operational crises to worsen.

Implementation, Impact

The cut will affect 40 of the country's busiest markets, although the specific locations have not yet been released; a list is expected on Thursday. The measure aims to maintain airspace safety and help prevent further disruptions due to controller shortages, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Bedford set to meet with airline leaders to discuss safely implementing the reduction.

The move follows a significant increase in delays and some cancellations, notably at major airports such as Newark Liberty International ( EWR) and Orlando International (MCO).

Cirium: Up to 1,800 U.S. Flights at Risk

Looking at Friday, November 7, the U.S. air travel system may see significant disruption beginning to strangle operations due to the reduction—still not formally assigned to specific airports or routes, which could equate to as many as 1,800 canceled flights and more than 268,000 seats removed from the national schedule in a single day, according to new estimates from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Cirium’s preliminary analysis looked at the 40 busiest U.S. airports by scheduled departures. If the pending 10% cut were applied evenly, Chicago O’Hare (ORD) would see the largest raw impact, with more than 120 flights and 14,500 seats removed. Atlanta (ATL), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), and Los Angeles (LAX) would follow in volume.

The firm emphasized that its estimates are rough modeling, not confirmed airline cancellations. Impacts may vary dramatically depending on whether carriers cut long-haul wide-body routes, high-frequency domestic spokes, or regional feeder operations.

Cirium also notes that the figures reflect only scheduled flying for Friday and do not represent broader, multi-day reductions. More details are expected once airlines issue revised timetables.

United Airlines CEO on the Reductions

United Airlines (UA) CEO Scott Kirby informed employees that the airline will preserve long-haul international routes and hub-to-hub flying, instead concentrating reductions on regional flights and domestic mainline routes that do not connect hubs, in order to protect network integrity, crew scheduling, and passenger re-accommodation options.

Customers will be notified via app, website, and push alerts, and any passenger traveling during the shutdown period may request a full refund, even on nonrefundable or basic economy fares — regardless of whether their flight is canceled.

Despite cuts, UA and United Express still expect to operate around 4,000 flights per day, and lower early-November load factors should allow many displaced passengers to be rebooked.

Kirby closed by thanking employees for their professionalism, emphasizing that safety remains the top priority and will not be compromised under any circumstance.

 What Happens Next

• FAA administrators are coordinating with airlines to determine the best way to implement these cuts, described as “prescriptive” and “surgical.”
• If staffing pressures continue to escalate, the FAA warns it may introduce additional measures.
• Passengers on domestic flights should anticipate continued delays and possible schedule changes at many of the nation’s busiest airports over the coming days.

This step by the FAA represents a rare move, signaling the seriousness of the shutdown’s impact on national aviation safety infrastructure.

The news comes as snow chances are increasing across the Midwest, Ohio Valley, and Northern Plains for this weekend.