Overview
- Airlines removed nearly 700 Friday flights by Thursday night as they begin phasing in the FAA’s directive, with additional cancellations likely as plans firm up.
- The FAA plan starts with roughly 4% reductions Friday and ramps up to as much as 10% during core hours from about 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- The agency had not posted a formal public order by midday Thursday, but a 40‑airport list was circulated to airlines and reported by multiple news outlets.
- Major carriers say long‑haul international and hub‑to‑hub routes will largely be preserved, and they are offering refunds or fee‑free changes to affected customers.
- About 13,000 air traffic controllers and roughly 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay, and unions caution that operational ripple effects could persist well after funding is restored.