Hundreds Of Flights Grounded At JFK, Newark Airports As FAA Cuts Air Traffic Nationwide

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

Air travelers faced mounting disruptions Sunday, Nov. 9, the third day of the Federal Aviation Administration’s nationwide flight reduction order across major U.S. airports.

According to FlightAware data, Newark Liberty International Airport reported 132 delays and 96 cancellations, while John F. Kennedy International Airport had 90 delays and 53 cancellations. LaGuardia Airport recorded 41 delays and 65 cancellations, and Philadelphia International Airport logged 41 delays and 33 cancellations.

Further south, Baltimore/Washington International Airport saw 38 delays and 27 cancellations, while Boston Logan International Airport experienced 48 delays and 58 cancellations.

And if the government shutdown continues, those numbers will only get worse, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned.

The phased order began Friday, Nov. 7, with a 4 percent reduction in flights, increasing to 10 percent by Thursday, Nov. 14. Commercial space launches and parachute operations near affected facilities will also be restricted, according to the FAA.

Among airlines, Republic Airways led with the most cancellations Sunday morning — more than 70 flights across the six airports, including 32 in Newark and 28 at LaGuardia. Southwest Airlines reported the most delays, with more than 50 across its network, concentrated at Baltimore/Washington and Boston Logan. JetBlue, Delta, United, and American Airlines also reported notable impacts throughout the day.

According to USA Today, United cut 158 flights Sunday. Delta diverted nearly 30 flights and canceled more Saturday as thunderstorms and air traffic control staffing limits disrupted operations at its Atlanta hub, with more cancellations expected Sunday.

So far, only United has told USA TODAY that it's cutting 158 flights on Sunday, Nov. 9, while Delta Air Lines said all canceled flights through Nov. 10 have been completed, but did not specify a total amount. 

Airlines must issue full refunds for canceled flights but are not required to reimburse secondary costs like hotels or ground transportation.

The reduction order applies to the nation’s busiest hubs — from Atlanta and Chicago to Newark, JFK, and Boston — and will remain in effect as long as safety data shows continued strain on the system, federal officials said.

The disruptions came as the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration began implementing a temporary 10 percent reduction in flights at 40 high-traffic airports nationwide. 

Duffy said the move was necessary to maintain safety amid staffing shortages and increased system stress.

“My department has many responsibilities, but our number one job is safety. This isn’t about politics – it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay,” he said. “It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking.”

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency acted after reviewing safety reports from pilots and controllers.

“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,” Bedford said. “The FAA will continue to closely monitor operations, and we will not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe.”