Overview
- Airlines started implementing a 4% reduction in operations Friday at 40 high-traffic airports under an FAA order that phases up to 10% next week.
- Flight trackers reported roughly 700–800 cancellations early Friday, with delays and schedule reshuffles concentrated at major hubs including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Dallas.
- American plans about 220 daily cancellations at the 4% level, United roughly 188–200, Delta about 170 and Southwest around 120, with carriers prioritizing hub-to-hub and long-haul international routes.
- The Department of Transportation requires full refunds for affected travelers, and major airlines are offering rebooking flexibility even on normally nonrefundable tickets.
- The FAA frames the move as a proactive safety step during the prolonged shutdown, warning of broader disruption as reductions expand and noting potential effects at cargo hubs in Memphis and Louisville.