The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that thousands of flights will be canceled starting Friday, November 7, 2025, as the longest government shutdown in U.S. history enters its 36th day. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that 40 major airports will experience a 10% reduction in flight capacity, potentially affecting 3,500 to 4,000 daily flights.

Key Points:

• The FAA will reduce flight capacity by 10% at 40 major U.S. airports starting Friday, with cuts ramping up gradually from 4% on Friday to the full 10% by next week.
• Air traffic controllers have gone unpaid for over a month, leading to increased fatigue, staffing shortages at nearly half of major control facilities, and more than 400 reported staffing gaps since the shutdown began.
• All major airlines are waiving change and cancellation fees during this period, with Delta and United offering refunds even on basic economy tickets, though travelers should expect significant rebooking challenges and potential stranding.

Which Airports Will Experience Flight Cuts?

While the FAA hasn't released the final list, preliminary information indicates that the nation's busiest airports are among the 40 affected locations. The cuts target "high-volume traffic markets" where air traffic controller staffing pressure is most severe.

Confirmed airports expected to see reductions include:

• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International (ATL)
• Boston Logan International (BOS)
• Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
• Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
• Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
• Denver International (DEN)
• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL)
• Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)
• Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• Miami International (MIA)
• Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP)
• Newark Liberty International (EWR)
• New York JFK International (JFK)
• New York LaGuardia (LGA)
• Orlando International (MCO)
• Philadelphia International (PHL)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
• Portland International (PDX)
• Salt Lake City International (SLC)
• San Diego International (SAN)
• San Francisco International (SFO)
• Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)
• Washington Reagan National (DCA)
• Washington Dulles International (IAD)

The list also includes major cargo hubs like Louisville, Memphis, and Anchorage, plus the private aviation-heavy Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.

How the Flight Reductions Will Roll Out

The capacity cuts won't hit all at once. Airlines received Wednesday night notification that reductions will be phased in over several days. Here's what to expect:

Friday, November 7: 4% capacity reduction beginsSaturday, November 8: 5% capacity reductionSunday, November 9: 6% capacity reductionNext week: Full 10% capacity reduction implemented

This gradual approach gives airlines time to reorganize schedules and notify affected passengers. However, with only 48 hours' notice before the first cuts, expect significant confusion and rebooking challenges.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency will meet with airline leaders to determine which flights get canceled at each airport. The goal is to distribute cuts "proportionally" across carriers, though Bedford acknowledged "there will be no perfect solution."

Why Is This Happening?

Air traffic controllers are considered essential federal employees, meaning they're required to work during the government shutdown even without receiving paychecks. The shutdown began October 1, and controllers received only a partial paycheck in early October before their second paycheck arrived at zero.

The FAA reports that approximately 50% of major air traffic control facilities are currently experiencing staffing shortages. More than 400 staffing gaps have been reported at FAA facilities since the shutdown began, more than four times the number seen during the same period last year.

Transportation Secretary Duffy acknowledged that financial pressures are forcing controllers to take second jobs. "What we're finding is that our air traffic controllers, because of the financial pressures at home, are taking side gigs," Duffy said. "By the way, I do not want them to take side jobs. I want them to show up for work."

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association president wrote last week that the controller workforce has been understaffed for more than a decade, resulting in mandatory overtime including regular 10-hour days and six-day work weeks. At 40% of FAA facilities, controllers worked six days a week at least once per month last year.

FAA Administrator Bedford emphasized the decision is based on data showing increased fatigue among controllers. "As we dig deeper into the data, what we find are issues of fatigue that our flight controllers are experiencing," Bedford said. "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."

Airline Responses and What They Mean for You

Major carriers rushed to provide updates and flexibility for travelers after the FAA announcement. Here's what each airline is offering:

United Airlines

United CEO Scott Kirby told employees that the airline will not reduce long-haul international flights or hub-to-hub flying. Instead, cuts will focus on regional United Express flights and domestic flights that don't connect United hubs.

"We will continue to make rolling updates to our schedule as the government shutdown continues so we can give our customers several days' advance notice and to minimize disruption for them," Kirby wrote.

All United customers with flights booked during the shutdown period are eligible for refunds, even on nonrefundable tickets.

Delta Air Lines

Delta expects to operate "the vast majority" of scheduled flights, with international routes completely unaffected by the FAA-mandated reductions. The Atlanta-based carrier issued a blanket waiver allowing passengers to change or cancel flights without penalty, with canceled tickets receiving full refunds.

American Airlines

American says the "vast majority" of customer travel will proceed as planned, with long-haul international service remaining on schedule. The airline will proactively reach out to affected customers with rebooking options.

Passengers whose flights are canceled for any reason can change their flight or request a full refund without penalty, even on basic economy tickets.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier CEO Barry Biffle took the most dramatic stance, urging travelers to book backup tickets on other carriers. "If your flight is cancelled your chances of being stranded are high so I would simply have a backup ticket on another airline," Biffle wrote in a statement.

He specifically recommended avoiding basic economy tickets that can't be changed or refunded for credit.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest is evaluating how the restrictions will affect its schedule and urged Congress to "immediately resolve its impasse." The airline will provide updates as more information becomes available.

What Travelers Should Do Right Now

If you have flights booked for this weekend or the coming weeks, here's your action plan:

Before Your Trip

Enable airline app notifications immediately. Download your carrier's mobile app if you haven't already, and turn on push notifications for flight status updates. Airlines will notify you through the app faster than email when flights get canceled.

Check your flight status obsessively. With cuts rolling out gradually and airlines making schedule changes on short notice, you'll want to check multiple times per day leading up to your trip.

Consider booking a backup flight. If your travel is essential and can't be delayed, use points or miles to book an alternative flight on a different airline. This is especially important if you're connecting through one of the 40 affected airports.

Rebook to nonstop flights if possible. Connections create more opportunities for disruption. If you can fly direct, you'll eliminate one major risk factor.

Build in extra time. If your trip has a deadline (like a wedding or business meeting), consider traveling a day earlier than planned to give yourself a buffer.

At the Airport

Arrive earlier than normal. TSA agents are also working without pay, and some airports have experienced three-hour security wait times. The MyTSA app that normally shows wait times isn't being updated during the shutdown, so you can't rely on it.

Use TSA PreCheck and CLEAR if you have them. Fast-tracked security programs become even more valuable during this chaos. CLEAR especially helps when there are major backups, since members can skip to the front of the line. Several premium travel credit cards offer statement credits for TSA PreCheck or CLEAR membership.

Consider TSA PreCheck Touchless ID. Several airlines now offer touchless identity verification that speeds up the PreCheck process. Check if it's available at your departure airport and sign up through your airline profile before your flight.

Pack light and avoid checked bags. If your flight gets canceled, you don't want to deal with retrieving checked luggage. Carry-on only gives you maximum flexibility to hop on another flight.

If Your Flight Gets Canceled

Know your rights. Under Department of Transportation rules, passengers whose flights are canceled or significantly delayed are entitled to a full refund if they choose not to fly, regardless of the reason for the disruption. This applies even to nonrefundable tickets during this period.

Act fast on rebooking. Thousands of other passengers will be trying to rebook simultaneously. Use your airline's app, call the airline directly, and check the airport rebooking desk. Sometimes one method gets you rebooked faster than others.

Consider alternative transportation. Depending on your route, driving, trains, or buses might get you there faster than waiting days for the next available flight.

Document everything. Keep records of all communications with the airline, canceled flight details, and any expenses you incur due to the disruption. This documentation will be crucial if you need to file claims or request reimbursements.

Use Credit Card Protections

Travel credit cards with trip delay and cancellation insurance can reimburse you for unexpected hotel nights, meals, and other expenses if you get stranded. Check your card's benefits to understand what's covered.

Cards that offer trip delay protection typically reimburse you for reasonable expenses after a delay of six hours or more. Trip cancellation insurance may cover non-refundable trip costs if you need to cancel due to the disruption.

Some cards with strong travel protections include:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve, which offers up to $10,000 in trip cancellation/interruption coverage
• The Platinum Card from American Express, with comprehensive trip delay benefits
• Chase Sapphire Preferred, offering trip cancellation/interruption insurance up to $10,000

The Points and Miles Strategy During Chaos

This situation creates both challenges and opportunities for maximizing your points and miles.

Book Award Flights as Backup Plans

If you have points or miles to spare, consider booking backup award flights on different airlines. Many programs let you cancel award bookings without penalty:

• United MileagePlus allows free cancellations up to 30 days before departure for a small redeposit fee
• Delta SkyMiles award tickets can be canceled without penalty if booked with miles
• American AAdvantage charges a small redeposit fee but offers flexibility
• Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards points return to your account when you cancel through their travel portals

This strategy works best if you have a stash of transferable points that can quickly move to different airline programs.

Leverage Status Benefits

Elite status with airlines becomes incredibly valuable during irregular operations. Higher-tier members typically get priority for rebooking and access to dedicated phone lines with shorter wait times.

If you don't have status, this chaos reinforces why it's worth pursuing. Even low-level status can make a massive difference when thousands of people are trying to rebook simultaneously.

Consider Premium Cabin Positioning

If you're flying internationally from one of the affected hub airports, consider positioning yourself at your hub city a day early using a cheap domestic ticket or award flight. Book a hotel using points (Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton all offer good redemption values), and give yourself breathing room before your long-haul flight.

This strategy is especially smart if you're connecting through major hubs like Newark, Chicago O'Hare, or Dallas/Fort Worth. Consider using hotel credit cards that offer free night certificates to minimize positioning costs.

What About Travel Insurance?

Standard travel insurance may not cover disruptions caused by the government shutdown, especially if you purchased the policy after the shutdown began. Most policies exclude "known events" from coverage.

However, some credit card travel protections may still apply. Trip delay insurance through premium travel cards typically covers delays regardless of the cause, as long as the delay meets the policy's time threshold (usually six hours).

Check your specific policy details, but don't count on traditional travel insurance to save you if the shutdown is disrupting your plans.

Building Your Travel Credit Card Strategy

This crisis highlights why having multiple travel credit cards with different airline and hotel partnerships gives you flexibility during irregular operations. Cards worth considering for their travel protections include:

For Chase Ultimate Rewards Flexibility

• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best-in-class travel protections and lounge access
• Chase Sapphire Preferred: Strong travel insurance at a lower annual fee
• Ink Business Preferred: Business card that earns transferable points

For American Express Membership Rewards

• The Platinum Card from American Express: Premium benefits including airport lounge access
• American Express Gold Card: Excellent for dining and grocery purchases
• The Business Platinum Card from American Express: Business version with valuable perks

For Airline-Specific Options

• United Club Infinite Card: United Club access for frequent United travelers
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card: Delta Sky Club access
• Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard: Admirals Club access for American flyers

Having cards across different ecosystems means you can book backup flights through multiple programs when disruptions hit.

How Long Will This Last?

The capacity reductions have no set end date. Secretary Duffy said the restrictions would continue even if the shutdown ends Thursday, as the FAA wants to see "a return to controller performance at levels that we were experiencing prior to the shutdown."

The shutdown is already the longest in U.S. history at 36 days. With Thanksgiving just three weeks away, the timing couldn't be worse for holiday travelers. The Thanksgiving travel period is historically the busiest of the year, and the added pressure of holiday volume on an already strained system could lead to even more severe disruptions.

FAA Administrator Bedford said the agency will evaluate data continuously and adjust the restrictions up or down based on staffing levels and controller fatigue. Additional measures beyond the 10% reduction could be implemented if conditions worsen.

Earlier this week, Duffy told CNBC he could "shut the whole airspace down" if the shutdown continues long enough.

Industry Impact and Broader Implications

The U.S. Travel Association says the shutdown costs the American travel economy approximately $140 million per day, with cumulative losses exceeding $1 billion per week. These losses stem from longer airport wait times, deferred infrastructure projects, and canceled travel plans.

As of Wednesday, more than 3.4 million travelers had experienced flight cancellations or delays due to shutdown-related staffing challenges, according to airline industry estimates.

The National Transportation Safety Board chairperson supported the FAA's decision, posting on social media that the capacity reductions represent proper safety management and "the right thing to do." NTSB has repeatedly stated that low air traffic controller staffing levels, mandatory overtime, and six-day work weeks have a direct impact on safety.

This marks an unprecedented move by the FAA and Department of Transportation. Administrator Bedford, who has 35 years of experience in aviation, said he's never seen anything like this capacity reduction in his entire career.

Bottom Line

The government shutdown has finally reached a tipping point where it's directly impacting millions of travelers. With 10% of flights at 40 major airports about to disappear from schedules, holiday travel plans are in serious jeopardy.

Your best defense is preparation. Enable notifications, check your flight status constantly, consider backup plans, and arrive at the airport with extra time. Use your points strategically to create backup options, and leverage credit card protections to minimize financial losses if you get stranded.

Most importantly, stay flexible. The situation is fluid and could change rapidly depending on how long the shutdown lasts and whether additional measures become necessary. The airlines are doing their best to accommodate passengers, but with thousands of flights being canceled, not everyone will get their preferred rebooking options.

If your travel isn't essential, seriously consider postponing until the shutdown ends. The hassle factor is only going to increase as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday period. For those who must travel, having the right travel credit cards with comprehensive protections becomes more valuable than ever.

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