Air travelers face frustration as FAA's further drop in flights takes effect

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Southwest Airlines planes sit at gates as travelers walk through Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Air travelers could face more frustration as busy U.S. airports need to meet a higher Federal Aviation Administration target for reducing flights Tuesday after already canceling thousands to scale back demands on the nation’s aviation system during the government shutdown .

The FAA ordered domestic airlines last week to drop 4% of their flights at 40 major U.S. airports , saying absences and signs of stress among traffic controllers made it imperative to act in the name of public safety. After already canceling more than 7,900