FAA slashes air traffic by 10% across 40 high-volume markets as government shutdown continues

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More than 5,100 flights delayed in the US today

At least 5,107 flights have been delayed in the United States on Thursday as of 5:38 p.m. ET, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.

An additional 149 flights in the U.S. have been canceled.

Some airports suffering the most delays include Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Boston Logan International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport, according to FlightAware.

The mounting delays come as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is preparing to cut 10% of flights at 40 U.S. airports beginning Friday, as air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents continue to go unpaid during the government shutdown.

Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch contributed to this blog post.

Posted by Greg Norman Share

FAA flight reduction plan announced amid shutdown

The Department of Transportation late Thursday released measures that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will take in order to maintain safety in the national airspace system as the government shutdown continues.

In order reduce the strain on air traffic controllers who have been working unpaid since the start of the shutdown over a month ago, triggering staffing issues at airports across the county, the FAA is initiating a temporary 10% reduction in flights at 40 high traffic airports across the country. 

The plan calls for a 4% cut in flights beginning Friday, and ramping up to 6% by Tuesday, Nov. 11. By Thursday, Nov. 13, the reduction will hit 8%, and finally 10% on Friday, Nov. 14.

“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a news release. “The FAA will continue to closely monitor operations, and we will not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe.”  

The FAA said it will also prohibit some visual flight rule approaches (VFR) at facilities with staffing triggers; limit commercial space launches to non-peak hours; and prohibit parachute operations and photo missions near facilities with a staffing trigger.

Airlines will be required to issue full refunds to passengers affected by the order. Carriers, the DOT says, will decide which flights are canceled to reach the order’s goal. 

The order does not require a reduction in international flights.

Posted by Alexandra Koch Share

Ground stops, delays issued at major US airports due to understaffing

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued advisories for multiple large airports Thursday night, all citing staffing issues amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

 • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is under a ground stop.

 • Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is under a ground delay, averaging 206 minutes. There is also a 30-minute departure delay.

 • Teterboro Airport (TEB) is under a 30-minute departure delay and increasing.

 • Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is under a ground delay, averaging 200 minutes.

 • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is under a ground delay, averaging 115 minutes.

 • Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is under a ground delay, averaging 73 minutes.

Other airports that list delays due to "volume" include Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).

Posted by Alexandra Koch Share

America’s top 10 busiest airports cut flights as shutdown drags on

America's busiest airports handled hundreds of millions of passengers last year, and many travelers could soon feel the effects as airlines are ordered to cut flights.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced 40 of the busiest airports in the U.S. will see a 10% flight reduction beginning Friday, citing the ongoing strain on air traffic controllers amid the federal government shutdown.

While the FAA has yet to make an official public announcement, The New York Times on Thursday reported a list of airports expected to be affected, which includes the nation’s top 10 busiest hubs.

The federal government shutdown has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to work without pay.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday the cuts could be reversed if Democrats agree to reopen the government.

Click here to see a full list of the busiest airports.

Sophia Compton contributed to this blog post.

Posted by Alexandra Koch Share

Air traffic controllers being evicted from their homes: ‘We’ve hit a crisis’

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National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels announced on Thursday its Oklahoma City training academy will soon close due to lack of funding amid the federal government shutdown, noting “we’ve hit a crisis.”

Daniels told “America Reports” co-anchor John Roberts that trainees and certified controllers are resigning before they are even assigned to a facility due to the stress of understaffing and working without pay.

“These are the issues that face America's national airspace today—having only 10,800 certified controllers where there should be 14,633,” Daniels said. “We've hit a crisis. I mean, we hit a crisis before the shutdown began. … This is putting us in an absolute tailspin. We're going to have to assess the damage afterward and somehow find a way to move it forward once again. But every day that this prolongs, only more issues are going to mount. The shutdown needs to end today.”

Acknowledging the public’s frustration, he said air traffic controllers are stressed about putting gas in their cars, food on the table and not having childcare.

“[There is not an] American out there that would say … put me in a position where for 37 days I'm not going to receive pay. And by the way, I don't know when you'll be paid again, and also you probably won't recoup that money for two or two and a half months post the shutdown opening,” Daniels said. “There was a trainee today that … said, ‘I'm being evicted out of my apartment. I'm supposed to be going to work to train today, but I have five days' notice to get out of my apartment.’”

Daniels said other air traffic controllers, who also are not being paid, are trying to help pull funds together to make sure he is able to stay in his home.

Posted by Alexandra Koch Share

More than 350 US flights already canceled for Saturday

As of 6:15 p.m. ET on Nov. 6, FlightAware data show more than 355 U.S. flights scheduled for Saturday had already been canceled.

More than 620 flights were canceled on Friday alone — almost as many as the total number of U.S. cancellations reported over the previous four days combined.

Posted by Amanda Macias Share

‘Go early and be patient’: TSA chief warns of longer airport lines as shutdown persists

Acting Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator Adam Stahl told Fox News Digital Thursday that as the shutdown persists, there will continue to be a significant impact on wait times amid officer callouts.

"We advise folks to continue to arrive early at the checkpoint, consistent with long-standing procedures — two to three hours," said Stahl. "Of course, it can't hurt to show up earlier."

Stahl added that some airports like Houston, LAX and Orlando may experience even longer wait times.

"Please go early and please be patient with our TSA officers," he added. "They're doing the best they can, again, under difficult circumstances."

This is an excerpt from a story by Ashley DiMella.

Posted by Amanda Macias Share

Hundreds of United flights canceled Friday due to shutdown, White House says

The White House on Thursday announced United Airlines is canceling hundreds of flights originally scheduled for Friday "due to the Democrat shutdown."

As airlines make decisions on which flights to cut to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-mandated flight restrictions, cancelations are beginning to appear on FlightAware, a flight-tracking data application.

As of 4:25 p.m. ET Thursday, FlightAware lists 445 cancelations across the US Friday—more than Wednesday and Thursday's total number of cancelations combined.

Several of the major airlines are near the top of the list of cancelations, along with regional carriers.

"This could've all been avoided if Democrats simply did their jobs. Instead, they chose chaos," White House officials wrote in an X post.

United Airlines Thursday afternoon announced its flight schedule, beginning Friday, has been adjusted.

Those whose flights have been impacted will be automatically rebooked on a different flight and notified.

United announced it is avoiding cancelations for long-haul international flights and hub-to-hub flights operating between seven airports, including: Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO) and Washington Dulles (IAD).

The company said it is working to ensure those with connections can keep their full itineraries.

Travelers are eligible for a refund if they choose not to fly—even if their flight isn't impacted, according to United.

“We're doing everything we can to minimize disruptions to your travel plans, and we’ll continue to provide updates as we have them,” the airline wrote in a statement on X.

Delta Air Lines said it was canceling about 170 flights on Friday and fewer on Saturday, Reuters reported.

FOX Business' Grady Trimble contributed to this blog post. 

Posted by Alexandra Koch Share

Southwest and United top US airlines for delays, while Delta reports fewest disruptions this week

FlightAware data show that among the four major carriers — Southwest, United, American and Delta — Southwest and United recorded the highest number of flight delays nationwide this week.

Dallas-based Southwest reported more than 1,740 delayed flights and nearly 50 cancellations, while Chicago-based United has seen about 1,730 delays and nearly 60 cancellations.

American Airlines averaged around a dozen canceled flights per day. Delta, meanwhile, reported the fewest disruptions among the four major carriers.

Posted by Amanda Macias Share

Airline bargaining agent spokesperson warns shutdown straining air safety: 'Not in my cockpit'

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Allied Pilots Association spokesperson Dennis Tajer told Fox News on Thursday the government shutdown is adding additional fatigue to unpaid air traffic controllers, risking safety in the skies as the holiday season nears.

“We have the FAA administrator noting that safety reports have come in showing air traffic controller fatigue levels rising, and that's not helpful to the safety culture,” Tajer told "America Reports" co-anchor Sandra Smith. “As a matter of fact, when that happens, you generally get people off the job so they can get the rest they need. What we have here is the crossroads of safety and reliability. ... This is nibbling in on the safety margin, and we're not going to allow that.”

He added there is a “righteous and noble political fight happening,” but said “it does not need to be in my cockpit.”

“We have got to protect the air system … [and] the airplanes that are out there from this political debate,” Tajer said. “We're traveling near the speed of sound, and the government right now is working at near the speed of molasses.”

Pilots are starting to time out because of staffing shortage delays, prompting the use of reserve pilots—who have limited hours in November.

“We're seeing nibbles at this Thanksgiving turkey right now, and that's not going to be helpful,” he said. “So this needs to end now. … “[The shutdown is] an unnecessary distraction [and] it impacts the safety and the security margin on my airplane. I won't tolerate it, and nor will the pilots that fly you. We have a moral and professional obligation to protect you.”

Posted by Alexandra Koch Share

The US airports where flight delays are piling up

Major hubs along the East Coast — including Newark, Washington, D.C. and Boston — reported some of the highest numbers of delayed flights, while large airports in Chicago, Dallas–Fort Worth, Los Angeles and Atlanta also experienced significant disruptions.

Newark Liberty International in New Jersey saw the most flight delays this week among 28 major U.S. airports, with 1,237, followed by Chicago O’Hare with 1,196, according to FlightAware.

Posted by Amanda Macias Share

Vance says government shutdown will lead to 'aviation emergency'

Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said the ongoing federal government shutdown will lead to an "aviation emergency" as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s grapples with a massive air traffic controller shortage.

In an X post, Vance wrote that "what the Democrats are doing on the government shutdown is genuinely unprecedented."

"While the administration has shielded the American people from the worst of the consequences, all of this is coming, and soon: An aviation emergency that will lead to significant travel delays for all Americans; Food stamp and other assistance programs running out for needy Americans; [and] Great strains on our military and national security," Vance wrote in the post.

The vice president added the shutdown "has now passed from farce into tragedy," noting the consequences of this national emergency "fall on every senator and congressman who refuses to open the government."

Posted by Alexandra Koch Share

Trump slams Buttigieg, says new air traffic control equipment contract will come within six weeks

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President Donald Trump on Thursday announced he will give out a new, pricey air traffic control equipment contract within the next six weeks so the U.S. will have "the best" air control system.

The current air traffic control equipment is 45 years old, and recent improvements were done incorrectly, according to Trump.

"[Former Transportation Sec. Pete] Buttigieg spent billions of dollars trying to fix it and didn't even use the right wire," the president said from the Oval Office Thursday. "You [are] hooking up glass into copper, and you can't do that. ... Most [people,] if they went to a reasonably good school, find out you can't put brass into copper and they spent billions of dollars that was actually made the system much worse."

He added the "entire system" will be replaced.

"It'll be expensive, but we'll have the best air control system," Trump said. "The control towers will be stripped down to the bone, and brand new equipment is being installed. ... It's a big contract."

Amid the longest U.S. federal government shutdown, the president added he is not concerned about flight safety, noting Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy is cutting air traffic to "make sure its 100% safe."

Posted by Alexandra Koch Share

Air traffic controllers set to miss their second paycheck, Duffy says

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said Thursday that, “Air traffic controllers are the patriots of our skies and they are set to miss their second paycheck!”

“Open the government up and get them paid,” Duffy added in a post on X. 

Air traffic controllers missed their first paycheck in late October because of the ongoing government shutdown. 

Posted by Greg Norman Share

Jeffries suggests FAA staffing issues might be due to pre-shutdown Trump admin layoffs

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said on Thursday that the ongoing staffing issues at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) might be due to layoffs that happened before the government shutdown.

“On the aviation safety issue. We need a full and complete briefing so we can understand from the administration what the current status is, what the impact of administration layoffs have been prior to the Trump Republican shutdown, because the administration has been going after the FAA since the beginning of their time in office, since January 20,” said the Democrat from New York. 

“And we need to understand how we got to this moment separate and apart from the Trump Republican shutdown. The problem is it's like impossible to have a congressional briefing with House Republicans on vacation six consecutive weeks,” Jeffries continued. 

“We want to immediately reopen the government,” Jeffries also said. “We want to find a bipartisan path forward to enacting a spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people and actually drives down the high cost of living. What about what happened on Tuesday do Republicans not understand? They got wiped out all across America because they've made this country too expensive, and they failed to do anything about the affordability crisis.” 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.

Fox News’ Tyler Olson contributed to this report. 

Posted by Greg Norman Share

Duffy says, 'let's not hold Americans hostage, especially when they want to travel'

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, who previously served in Congress, hopes that lawmakers will act fast to get the government reopened and Americans back to traveling at normal rates. 

"People have asked me ‘why don’t you find money for air traffic controllers?’” Duffy said during an appearance Thursday on “Fox & Friends.” 

“I don’t have access to money. I can't find dollars to pay them because, the Congress said there is no money. And so, we can't break the law, and so I can't. I can't pay them. I'd love to, but I can't. And so, the message is, sit down, figure this out, open the government up, and, you know, let's not hold Americans hostage, especially when they want to travel," Duffy added. 

“That’s not the way to do this. Let’s get this resolved,” Duffy added. 

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf contributed to this report. 

Posted by Greg Norman Share

Flight chaos grips US airports as some airlines advise booking 'backup ticket': See the list

Over 1,000 flights are now experiencing delays as flight cancellations grow during the government shutdown.

As of 9:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, 1,094 flights within, into or out of the U.S. had been delayed, while 49 had been canceled, according to FlightAware.com.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing a flight reduction plan limiting air travel capacity at 40 airports.

Many airlines are updating customer policies and warning travelers of potential itinerary updates.

Frontier CEO Barry Biffle shared travel advice with followers on Instagram.

"If you are flying Friday or in the next 10 days, and need to be there or don’t want to be stranded, I highly recommend booking a backup ticket on another carrier," wrote Biffle.

Posted by Ashley J. DiMella Share

Delta, American Airlines expect ‘vast majority’ of customers to be unaffected

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Delta Air Lines and American Airlines said Thursday that the “vast majority” of their customers will not be affected by an upcoming reduction in flights at 40 major U.S. airports starting Friday. 

“Delta is complying with a directive from the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation to reduce flights at 40 major U.S. airports beginning Friday, Nov 7,” Delta said in a statement. 

“Delta expects to operate the vast majority of our flights as scheduled, including all long-haul international service, and will work to minimize customer impact while keeping safety our top priority.” 

The airline added that, “We are providing additional flexibility to all of our customers during the impacted travel period to change, cancel or refund their flights, including our basic economy fares, without penalty.”

In its own statement, American Airlines said, “While we are awaiting additional information from the FAA to determine which flights will be impacted, we expect the vast majority of our customers’ travel will be unaffected.” 

“As schedule changes are made, we will proactively reach out to customers who are impacted,” it also said. 

Posted by Greg Norman Share

United Airlines to offer refunds because of shutdown-caused flight restrictions

United Airlines customers with flights booked to travel during the government shutdown will be eligible for a refund, CEO Scott Kirby told employees in a memo on Wednesday.

The news came after the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation announced a reduction in schedules across 40 domestic airports, starting on Friday, as a result of the shutdown.

"[A]ny customer traveling during this period is eligible for a refund if they do not wish to fly – even if their flight isn't impacted. That includes non-refundable tickets and those customers with basic economy tickets," Kirby said in the memo.

He added that the airline's "long-haul international flying and our hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted by this schedule reduction direction from the FAA."

"Instead, we will focus our schedule reductions on regional flying and domestic mainline flights that do not travel between our hubs," Kirby said, adding that the airline will utilize its app, website and push notifications to stay in touch with customers about flight changes and to offer rebooking options.

Posted by Pilar Arias Share

Reducing air travel capacity at 40 airports is 'data-driven' decision, Duffy says

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told "Fox & Friends" on Thursday that the decision to limit air travel capacity to 40 airports was "data-driven."

"We ere seeing increased pressure in these 40 markets. And we looked at the data — this was data driven — and so taking 10% of the flights out will reduce that pressure, which is what we want to do," Duffy said. 

"Now, does that mean there's going to be no delays? No, Brian," Duffy told Fox News' Brian Kilmeade. "There's potentially still going to be delays if we have staffing triggers, and we don't have enough controllers in an aerospace where we did cut 10%, you might see additional delays."

As of 9:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, 825 flights within, into or out of the U.S. had been delayed while 42 had been canceled, according to FlightAware.com. 

When asked about whether Americans should consider canceling their holiday plans, Duffy said it was "hard to predict" what could happen in the coming weeks, pointing to the historically long government shutdown. 

Posted by Rachel Wolf Share

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