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US warns it could force 20 percent flight cuts if shutdown continues
The Federal Aviation Administration mandated airlines on Nov. 7 cut 4 percent of flights at 40 major airports after the government because of a record-setting government shutdown before it rises to 10 percent by Nov. 14.
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Reuters - Fri, 07, Nov 2025
- 15:14 EST
- 22
An American Airlines airplane takes off from New York's Laguardia Airport after the FAA ordered flight cuts at 40 major airports amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown in the Queens borough of New York City, U.S., November 7, 2025. / REUTERS/Ryan Murphy
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Nov. 7 the government could force airlines to cut up to 20 percent of flights if the shutdown did not end as U.S. airlines on Nov. 7 scrambled to make unprecedented government-imposed reductions.
The Federal Aviation Administration mandated airlines on Nov. 7 cut 4 percent of flights at 40 major airports after the government because of a record-setting government shutdown before it rises to 10 percent by Nov. 14.
Also Read: US airlines cut hundreds of flights on Nov. 7 after FAA shutdown directive
Duffy told reporters it was possible he could require 20 percent cuts later. "I assess the data," Duffy said. " We're going to make decisions based on what we see in the air space"
The cuts, which began at 6 a.m. ET (1100 GMT), include about 700 flights from the four largest carriers - American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines - and are set to rise to 6 percent on Nov. 5 and then 10 percent by Nov. 14 if the shutdown does not end.
The cuts don't apply to international flights.
Separately, air traffic controller absences on Nov. 7 forced the Federal Aviation Administration to delay hundreds of flights at nine airports including in Atlanta, San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, Washington and Newark. By 2 p.m. ET, there were more than 2,600 flight delays.
MORE CUTS WOULD BE 'PROBLEMATIC', AMERICAN AIRLINES SAYS
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom does not expect significant disruption for customers from initial government-ordered flight reductions, he said on Friday, warning that increased cuts would be "problematic."
"This level of cancellation is going to grow over time and that's something that is going to be problematic," Isom told CNBC.
American told Reuters its 220 flight cancellations on Nov. 7 impacted 12,000 passengers and within a few hours re-accommodated a majority of them.
Cuts will be smaller over the weekend as scheduled flight volumes decline.
United Airlines said half of its impacted customers were able to be rebooked within four hours of their original departure time. United, which canceled 184 flights Friday, will cut 168 Saturday and 158 Sunday.
Duffy on Wednesday had announced plans to cut 10 percent of flights starting on Nov. 7 but said on Nov. 7 the "safety team said that could be even more disruptive" and instead opted to phase them starting at 4 percent .
Duffy said safety data was behind the move, including incidents of planes not maintaining separation and ground incursions.
"We've had more complaints from pilots that have said, well, the controller is less responsive to me, or controllers seem to be more stressed," Duffy said. "The numbers are going in the wrong direction."
The FAA did not publish the list of airports impacted until 7:30 p.m. ET Nov. 6- less than 12 hours before the cuts took effect - and largely rejected concerns airlines raised after they received a draft order.
Airlines were also dealing with the fallout from continuing air traffic controller absences as the FAA slows flights to address staffing issues. Earlier this week, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said 20-40 percent of controllers were not showing up for work on any given day.
During the record long 38-day government shutdown, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been forced to work without pay.
The FAA on Nov. 7 was delaying flights at six airports amid a spike in air traffic controller absences.
The FAA is restricting space launches as well.
It also warned it could reject specific cuts if they disproportionately impacted certain communities and could cut up to 10 percent of general aviation flights at high-traffic airports if staffing issues arose.
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