US Forces Flight Cuts at Major Hubs Amid Record-Length Shutdown
Travelers across the United States faced growing uncertainty after federal officials ordered airlines to reduce flights at 40 airports, citing safety risks tied to air-traffic staffing shortages caused by the ongoing government shutdown.
The directive took effect on Friday with an initial 4% reduction in operations at the listed airports, scheduled to increase to 10% next week. Affected hubs include Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.
Officials Cite Safety Concerns
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the move is driven by data and safety considerations rather than politics. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford warned the measures are proactive steps to avoid a potential accident as early warning signs point to mounting operational risk.
"We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself, when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating," said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
Impact on Flights and Passengers
Flight tracking site FlightAware reported more than 800 cancellations scheduled for Friday. Major carriers published specific figures: American Airlines said its reductions amount to roughly 220 daily cancellations; Delta reported eliminating about 170 flights on Friday; and Southwest canceled around 100 flights for the same day.
FlightAware data also showed more than 6,800 U.S. flights were delayed on Thursday, with about 200 cancellations. Travelers experienced long security lines and significant delays: average delays exceeded two hours at Boston and Newark, and more than an hour at Chicago O'Hare and Washington Reagan National.
Why Now?: Shutdown Fallout
The shutdown began on October 1 and has become the longest in U.S. history. Approximately 1.4 million federal employees — including air-traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration screeners — are either furloughed or working without pay. Officials say some high-stress aviation workers have called in sick or taken second jobs to cover expenses, compounding staffing shortfalls.
Airlines said they are complying with the directive and emphasized international and "hub-to-hub" routes would largely remain intact, suggesting reductions will affect more regional and short-haul services. Carriers warned the short notice will complicate operations and could cause further disruptions as travel demand rises ahead of Thanksgiving.
Advice for Travelers
Passengers should check flight status with their airline before heading to the airport, allow extra time for security, and consider alternative travel plans if possible. Officials maintain that flying remains safe, but urge travelers to prepare for delays and cancellations over the coming days.
