Overview
- Airlines started implementing a 4% reduction in operations on Friday that will scale to 10% by November 14 under the FAA’s nationwide directive.
- Hundreds of flights were canceled as carriers adjusted schedules, with American cutting about 220 daily, Delta about 170, United under 200, and Southwest around 120 on Friday.
- The order targets high-traffic airports across the country, including multiple fields in New York, Chicago, Houston, Washington, Los Angeles, Dallas–Fort Worth, Atlanta and Denver.
- Major carriers say long‑haul international and hub‑to‑hub services will largely be preserved, concentrating reductions on regional and other domestic routes to limit passenger disruption.
- The Transportation Department requires full refunds for shutdown‑related cancellations, and Cirium estimates the full 10% cuts could affect up to roughly 1,800 flights and 268,000 seats per day, with cargo hubs in Memphis and Louisville also at risk of disruption.