FAA orders 10% cut to flights at 40 major airports as shutdown strains ATC staffing

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce flight operations by 10% across 40 high-volume U.S. airports, citing an acute air traffic controller staffing crisis that has been made worse by the protracted federal shutdown. The phased slow-down begins Friday and is expected to reach the full 10% next week. Airlines say they’re trimming schedules and offering flexibility, but travelers should brace for cancellations and delays.

Estimates from aviation analytics firm Cirium suggest that roughly 1,800 flights per day will be cut, translating to a loss of about 268,000 passenger seats. The full force of the impact could be concentrated at the country’s busiest hubs including New York, Washington, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Dallas.

The FAA and DOT say air tr