These are the U.S. Airports with Flight Cancellations Due to Government Shutdown

The crisis stemming from the partial government shutdown in the United States began to manifest this Friday in the national air system and in flight cancellations within North American airspace. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed a temporary 10% reduction in flights at 40 high-traffic airports, a measure intended to alleviate pressure on a system operating at its limits. The announcement was made by the Secretary of Transportation,

, and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, who emphasized that the federal government’s priority remains maintaining airspace safety, even as thousands of controllers work without pay due to the government shutdown. “My department has many responsibilities, but our priority is safety. This is not about politics; it’s about evaluating data and mitigating the accumulating risk within the system,” Duffy stated. “We are observing signs of strain in the system, which is why we are proactively reducing the number of flights to ensure Americans continue to fly safely,” Bedford added. According to the emergency order issued by the FAA, the reduction in flights will be applied in a staggered manner:

4% starting November 7th
6% on November 11th
8% on November 13th
10% on November 14th Additionally, certain visual flight rules (VFR) landings will be prohibited at understaffed airports, commercial space launches will be restricted to nighttime hours, and special operations such as skydiving and photographic flights will be suspended in high-workload areas. Reports of fatigue and overload among pilots and controllers have increased. Last weekend alone, 2,740 delays were recorded at various airports nationwide, reflecting the level of operational stress faced by the air network.

Airlines Mandated to Refund Tickets, But Without Compensation

The FAA clarified that airlines will be required to refund the full cost of tickets affected by cancellations or delays, though they will not be obligated to cover additional expenses such as lodging or meals. This measure does not include international flights; therefore, each airline will determine which domestic routes to adjust to comply with the imposed reduction. “Yes, I am concerned about the economic burden,” Duffy acknowledged. “Airlines transport essential goods and passengers, but we cannot compromise safety.”

Major Airports Affected by Cancellations

Among the 40 most affected airports are the main air hubs across the country:

Northeast: Boston (Logan), New York (LaGuardia and JFK), Newark, Philadelphia, and Teterboro.
Midwest: Indianapolis, Chicago (Midway and O’Hare), Cincinnati, Detroit, Louisville, and Minneapolis/St. Paul.
South: Atlanta, Dallas (Love and DFW), Houston (Hobby and George Bush), Fort Lauderdale, Memphis, Orlando, Miami, Tampa, and Charlotte.
Washington Area: Baltimore/Washington, Dulles, and Ronald Reagan.
West: Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Ontario, Portland, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle/Tacoma, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City.
Hawaii and Alaska: Anchorage and Honolulu.

Government Pledges Continuous Oversight

Secretary Duffy affirmed that decisions regarding adjusting or expanding restrictions will be made solely based on operational safety criteria, as Congress continues to withhold approval of the federal budget required to resume payments to essential personnel. “It is safe to fly today, and it will remain safe next week thanks to the proactive actions we are undertaking,” the official stated. For now, delays, cancellations, and uncertainty have become part of the landscape for American travelers, as the government shutdown continues to extend its effects across key sectors of the nation’s transportation and economy.