What Travelers Need to Know About the FAA Flight Reductions

If you’re traveling in the next few days, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your itineraries as airlines have been directed to cut flights at major airports across the country.

Due to the government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a directive to reduce the number of flights by 10% in 40 of the nation’s busiest markets starting Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. The move is intended to alleviate air traffic volume and maintain safety as air traffic controllers — who are working without a paycheck during the longest shutdown in U.S. history — are calling out in higher numbers than usual.

While the list is limited, airports across the country will likely be impacted since most airlines operate a hub-and-spoke flying network.

That could represent as many as 1,800 flights being cut per day, according to an estimate provided by Cirium, the aviation analytics company. Some airlines have begun issuing waivers allowing more flexibility for passengers, even if they’re not directly impacted.

Here’s what you should expect as a traveler.

Here’s what U.S. airlines have said about how they plan to implement the flight reduction directive:

United’s scheduled long-haul international flights and hub-to-hub flying will remain as is, according to a memo from United CEO Scott Kirby to employees. That means if you’re flying to Europe, Asia, Africa and parts of South America, your flights should not be impacted. Flights between United’s hub airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Washington, Houston and Newark, New Jersey, will continue as scheduled.

“Instead, we will focus our schedule reductions on regional flying and domestic mainline flights that do not travel between our hubs,” he said in the note.

Impacted customers will be notified via the United app and website, where they can see rebooking options. Passengers who choose not to travel — even if their flights are not affected — are eligible for a refund, including those traveling on nonrefundable tickets and basic economy fares.

The Atlanta-based carrier said it plans to comply with the flight reduction directive, although it expects the vast majority of its scheduled flights to operate as scheduled. Like United, it said that its long-haul international service will not be impacted by the cuts.

All Delta passengers can change, cancel or refund their tickets without penalty during this time, even if traveling in basic economy.

American said that it plans to reach out proactively to customers whose trips are impacted by the cuts. It also urged lawmakers to “reach an immediate resolution to end the shutdown.”

“We expect the vast majority of our customers’ travel will be unaffected,” the airline said in a statement. Long-haul international traffic will remain unaffected.

Customers who decide not to travel during this time can change or cancel their flight without penalty.

Southwest said it is evaluating how the reductions would affect its schedule and that it would proactively communicate with customers as soon as possible.

If your Southwest flight is canceled, the airline will typically rebook you automatically on another flight. If your flight is canceled and you decide not to travel, you’re eligible for a refund.

The low-cost carrier said most Frontier flights should operate as scheduled despite the reductions, but it also issued a flexible travel policy for any passengers traveling during this time period who want to change or cancel their travel plans.

The initial policy is valid for travel between Nov. 6 and 12, 2025, and waives the change or cancellation fee. You’ll still need to pay any fare difference if you’re changing to a more expensive flight, and you’ll receive a travel credit if you decide to cancel.

Watch for changes. If you’re flying in the next few days on a domestic flight, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your itinerary to see if there are any changes. While international flyers seem less likely to be impacted, don’t forget that you could be at risk if you require a domestic flight to reach the departure airport of your international flight.

For those traveling more than a week out, it’s helpful to be aware of what’s going on, but don’t panic just yet. In 2019, a 35-day-long government shutdown ended shortly after delays caused by air controller absences temporarily shut down travel at New York’s LaGuardia airport.

These major impacts on air travel could spur lawmakers to end the shutdown, although that remains to be seen.

Take advantage of waivers. Airlines have already begun issuing travel waivers to offer flexibility for passengers, but these are only for a limited period. For example, United’s travel waiver is valid for travel between November 6 to 13. If your flights are later, you’ll need to wait for an extension to change or cancel them for free under the waiver.

Keep in mind that waivers are typically only valid if you purchase your ticket before a certain date. If you purchase tickets after that date, your trip may not be eligible.

Prepare for long lines at security checkpoints. If you have TSA PreCheck, look into whether your airline offers the Touchless ID program from the airport you’re flying from. It’s an opt-in program for eligible travelers using a mobile boarding pass, and it gives you access to a dedicated TSA screening line which can speed up your airport security process.

You may also want to arrive earlier than normal in case lines are longer than expected. This can be helpful, especially as TSA officers are also working without a paycheck amid the government shutdown.

Make a backup plan. For extra peace of mind, you might consider booking refundable backup flights on a different carrier using points or miles. Most U.S. mileage programs allow you to cancel award flights for free, as long as it’s done prior to departure. If you’re booking with Delta, make sure to avoid booking basic award fares since those incur a cancellation fee.

If possible, consider alternative means of transportation to get to your destination, such as car, train or bus.