FAA Orders Phased Flight Reductions at 40 U.S. Airports as Cancellations Mount

Overview

• FlightAware reported more than 850 cancellations and thousands of delays by Friday afternoon as airlines executed the first stage of the mandate.
• Transportation officials said reductions start at 4% and could rise to 6% early next week and up to 10% by Nov. 14 if the funding impasse persists.
• The directive covers roughly 40 major airports, including New York’s LaGuardia, JFK and Newark, Washington’s Reagan National and Dulles, Chicago O’Hare, LAX, SFO, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas and Denver.
• Airlines are concentrating cuts on domestic and regional routes, with long‑haul international and many hub‑to‑hub flights largely continuing, and carriers are offering rebooking options and refunds.
• Officials cite unpaid air‑traffic controllers and TSA staff driving shortages, fatigue and safety risks, while some critics accuse the administration of using the cuts as political pressure.