Photo: MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO / AFP / Getty Images
Travelers should brace for significant disruptions as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to reduce flight capacity by 10% at 40 major U.S. airports starting Friday (November 8). This decision comes as a response to the ongoing government shutdown, which has led to air traffic controller shortages. The affected airports include major hubs such as Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson, Boston Logan, and all three New York City-area airports, among others.
The FAA's directive aims to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay during the shutdown. According to Politico, the reduction is expected to impact approximately 5,000 flights daily. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of potential "mass chaos" in air travel if the shutdown continues.
Travel expert Katy Nastro told ABC News that the ripple effects could extend beyond the 40 listed airports, affecting travelers nationwide. Airlines like United, Delta, and American have announced waivers for affected passengers, allowing changes without additional costs. However, Nastro cautioned that last-minute tickets could be expensive, and travel insurance may not cover shutdown-related disruptions.
The situation has sparked political reactions, with some lawmakers urging a resolution to the funding stalemate. FAA Chief Bryan Bedford emphasized that the cuts are a preventive measure to ensure safety, stating, "We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself."
The duration of these restrictions remains uncertain, but officials suggest that lifting them will depend on resolving the shutdown and restoring normal operations for air traffic controllers.
Here is the list of airports that will see a reduction in air traffic starting on Friday.
- Anchorage International
- Baltimore/Washington International
- Boston Logan International
- Charlotte Douglas International
- Chicago Midway
- Chicago O’Hare International
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
- Dallas/Fort Worth International
- Dallas Love
- Denver International
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
- Honolulu International
- Houston Hobby
- Indianapolis International
- Las Vegas McCarran International
- Los Angeles International
- Louisville International
- Memphis International
- Miami International
- Minneapolis/St Paul International
- Newark Liberty International
- New York John F Kennedy International
- New York LaGuardia
- Oakland International
- Ontario (California) International
- Orlando International
- Philadelphia International
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International
- Portland International
- Ronald Reagan Washington National
- Salt Lake City International
- San Diego International
- San Francisco International
- Seattle/Tacoma International
- Tampa International
- Teterboro
- Washington Dulles International