U.S. airlines initiated the cancellation of numerous flights on Thursday in response to the Federal Aviation Administration’s actions to decrease air traffic at major U.S. airports due to the ongoing government shutdown.
By late Thursday, FlightAware reported that over 760 flights had been removed from Friday’s airline schedules, tracking disruptions in the flight operations.
The FAA identified 40 airports across more than 25 states, including key hubs like Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, N.C., as part of the reduction plan provided to the airlines. Multiple airports in metropolitan areas such as New York, Houston, Chicago, and Washington will also be affected.
In an official order released on Thursday evening, the FAA announced that the reductions would begin at four percent on Friday and gradually increase to 10 percent by November 14. These measures will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, impacting all commercial airlines.
The reductions aim to ensure safety as air traffic controllers show signs of strain during the shutdown. This action coincides with the Trump administration’s efforts to pressure Democrats in Congress to end the shutdown.
The FAA order expressed concerns about the escalating risks due to delays and unpredictable staffing shortages, leading to increased fatigue among air traffic controllers.
Throughout the shutdown, air traffic controllers have been working without pay, resulting in a rise in sick day usage. Most controllers are required to work overtime six days a week.
Airports in 40 U.S. cities like New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles will have flights reduced following an order from the Federal Aviation Administration to cut traffic by four per cent on Friday, to ease the pressure on unpaid air traffic controllers during the government shutdown.
Prior to the implementation of the reductions, airlines were scrambling to adjust their schedules. American Airlines announced a four percent reduction in its schedule at the listed airports from Friday through Monday, amounting to about 220 cancellations per day, with plans to reach the 10 percent target. International flights by the carrier are expected to remain unaffected.
The reduction measures also extend to certain smaller carriers operating scheduled charter flights, with international flights exempt from the cuts as per the FAA guidelines.
Some airlines intend to focus on cutting routes to and from smaller and medium-sized cities.
Industry analyst Henry Harteveldt remarked that the impact of these reductions on the U.S. air transportation system will be significant.
These flight reductions, just ahead of the busy holiday season, have prompted some travelers to modify their plans or explore alternative travel options.
For instance, Fallon Carter canceled her flight from New York to Tampa, concerned about returning to Long Island for her role as a brides