Federal Aviation Administration to reduce U.S. air traffic by 10% at 40 major airports amid government shutdown — airlines including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines prepare for impact

Published on November 6, 2025

Federal Aviation Administration to reduce U.S. air traffic by 10% at 40 major airports amid government shutdown — airlines including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines prepare for impact. As the U.S. government shutdown enters its 36th day, the aviation sector is feeling the pressure. With critical staffing shortages affecting air traffic control and security, the FAA has been forced to implement significant flight reductions at some of the country’s busiest airports. This decision, which will reduce air traffic by 10% starting Friday, is expected to have far-reaching effects on both domestic and international travel. Major carriers like United, Delta, American, and Southwest are working closely with government authorities to manage the disruption, but travelers should brace for delays, cancellations, and extended wait times. The shutdown has also caused a ripple effect on the hospitality industry, which is already grappling with the fallout from reduced tourist traffic. As we head into the peak travel season, understanding how the government shutdown is impacting your travel plans will be essential for smooth navigation of your upcoming U.S. trip.

Although the U.S. government currently involves a shutdown, it still classified the shutdown’s effect on the travel and tourism sectors as manageable. Hence, travelers bound to the U.S directly or indirectly in the year 2025, need to understand the travel implications of the government shutdown to the airline and global travel dynamics. Here, we aim to succinct elaborate on the flight reductions, the response of the airlines to the reductions and the effect on the hospitality sector. Here’s a snapshot of the USA travel dynamics to understand your travel in 2025.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated the traffic at almost 40 major U.S. airports will be cut down by 10% as of Friday and will remain like this for the subsequent weeks that the government is under a shutdown. This is a direct fallout from air traffic center employees and aviation personnel being put on unpaid leave stalling traffic control, as the ordered shutdown and subsequent government cut back on funding. The flow of the system aviation system in the U.S. will be on a controlled and very limited flow until the government lifts the shutdown. Dispatching officers, air traffic control, controlled security agents, and a large portion of system aviation staff will be fully on leave.

Consequently, major U.S. airports, such as those in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas, will see a decrease in the number of flights. This is aimed at reducing the workload of air traffic controllers, who, due to a mix of absenteeism and an already tight staffing situation, have been grappling with sustained work overload.

While this may provide some relief to overworked air traffic controllers, the impact to airlines, travelers, and airports nationwide is unavoidable. But what will this mean for your travel experience?

Major U.S. Carriers United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines Brace for Increased Disruptions

The FAA’s directive to reduce flights affects all airlines with U.S. operations, forcing the major carriers United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines to cancel and/or delay scheduled flights. These airlines handle more than their fair share of the domestic and international air traffic. They have prepared for the cascade effects of their revised flight schedules and the operational limitations that they have to work with.

Although airlines have not detailed how they will implement these cuts, it can be anticipated that delays and cancellations will become even more pronounced, especially in major market segments. The 10% decrease will touch domestic and international markets, meaning your travel plans—be it New York to California or an international flight—are also likely to be impacted.

Airlines have partnered with the FAA to understand how the cuts will play out while trying to mitigate the impact on travelers. However, disruptions will occur, and travelers, particularly in major congestion areas like New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, should prepare for lengthy airport wait times, where delays and cancellations will most likely occur.

Impact on the Hospitality Industry and Customers

The travel and tourism sector is no stranger to the ripple effects of government travel restrictions. With fewer flights, we can expect further declines in travel bookings, which in turn will have an impact on the hospitality sector, particularly in major tourist destinations that depend significantly on domestic and international travel.

Hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals in major cities like New York, Orlando, and Las Vegas could see a reduction in bookings as passengers delay or cancel their trips because of disruptions in flights. The hospitality industry may also deal with challenges in accommodating travelers who do reach their destination, as the overbooked flights and lengthy delays generate longer check-in times and potential overcrowding at airports and lodgings.

Travelers may experience price increases in certain areas because of reduced air service. The negative impact of the disruptions on the overall tourism economy will be significant in the short term, while airlines and hotels will likely provide flexible bookings and lower prices.

Travel Tips for Visitors to the U.S. During the Shutdown

During a government shutdown, most U.S. government services are temporarily suspended, which can make traveling to the U.S. much more difficult. Below are a few suggestions to consider for avoiding the most common issues caused by a government shutdown.

1. Monitor Flight Status Frequently With the reduction in FAA services, there are also fewer flights to oversee. As a result, there are larger delays and more last minute cancellations. Therefore, it is best to make sure you are in contact with your airline 24 to 48 hours before your scheduled departure, and to keep checking for any possible cancellations and last minute cancellations. United, Delta, and American are the most government reliant airline services and most likely to experience the greatest delays.
2. Travel During the Shutdown with Flexible Plans Compared to airline services that are more reliant on government services, flights during the shutdown that are more flexible are easier to cancel and rebook. With the 10% drop in scheduled air traffic, there are also lower threats with costly rescheduling. Most airline services are offering lower costs for at least limited flexible travels.
3. Allow Extra Time at Airports

Larger airports like JFK, LAX, and O’Hare have much longer wait times at security for the foreseeable future. Since more TSA agents are absent, arrive at the airport at least 2-3 hours before your flight. Consider getting TSA PreCheck to speed up the process even more.

4. Consider Other Airports and Other Routes

If you are traveling to or coming from a major U.S. city, see if other nearby airports offer flights to your destination. If you are flying into New York, for example, see flights into LaGuardia or Newark airports as possible backups if JFK is your primary destination and is experiencing major delays.

5. Get Travel Insurance

If you don’t have it already, then definitely consider getting travel insurance for covers flight cancellations, delays, and interruptions for other unexpected situations such as a government shut down. Most travel insurance will also help cover delays for other situations that are beyond the traveler’s control.

Flight Details and Current Impacts

Most immediate impact of the FAA’s reduction in air traffic is seen in the most crowded U.S. airports. Airlines will probably first scale back on short-haul flights and revise the schedules of long-haul international flights. The frequency of closely monitored flights in the U.S. such New York to Los Angeles, Chicago to Miami, and San Francisco to Seattle will most likely be discontinued due to the mandated reduction.

To international travelers, the implications of the U.S. government shutdown, added to existing air travel to the U.S., may create an even greater air travel “black hole.” Delays will be more noticeable on transatlantic flights from U.S. hubs in London and Toronto and Mexico City. Passengers on flights to and from the U.S. who connect through hubs in London, Toronto, and Mexico City will face more missed connections and long waits due to the restricted flights.

As an illustration, air traffic from London Heathrow to New York JFK and Los Angeles are highly monitored and will likely to face cuts and delays. New travelers from Europe, India, and Latin America will bring added disruption risks. Central European airports, in particular, Frankfurt and Paris, partially managed cascading delays during travel from these regions to U.S. Air traffic to U.S. hubs increases the disruption risks in these airports.

How the Shutdown Impacts International Tourism to the U.S.

The current U.S. government shutdown will affect U.S. tourism in multiple ways. International tourists will likely face longer delays and cancellations of flights and visas, and hindered entry to the U.S. will certainly discourage some prospective tourists from coming to America. Consequently, some of the U.S. most popular tourist areas will likely receive fewer international visitors from Canada, the U.K., Germany, and Mexico.

Of these countries, Canada and Mexico are the U.S.’s most important sources of international travelers. The 10% reduction in flights to the U.S. and the delays in visa processing are likely to affect travelers from these countries most, as they tend to come to the U.S. for both business and leisure. U.S. border towns and cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, and Orlando, which depend mainly on cross-border traffic, are likely to receive fewer international tourists.

Furthermore, important travelers coming from Europe and the rest of the world will have to alter their U.S. travel plans. Iconic U.S. destinations like New York, San Francisco, and Las Vegas will likely see fewer European tourists if airlines reduce flights from main European cities of London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

Federal Aviation Administration to reduce U.S. air traffic by 10% at 40 major airports amid government shutdown — airlines including United, Delta, American, and Southwest brace for delays and cancellations. The shutdown’s impact extends to both air travel and the hospitality industry, affecting tourists and travelers across the nation.

Plan Ahead for Travel During the Shutdown

The U.S. government shutdown is currently impacting travel, especially air travel and tourism. Due to a reduction in FAA services, 10% of flights at 40 major U.S. airports are going to be reduced. Thus, travelers should remain flexible and check on the status of their flights. To deal with possible congestion and delays at the airport, travelers should plan to arrive at the airport some time before their scheduled flight.

Those who are going to be traveling to the U.S. in the next few months should plan for uncertain travel conditions, monitor expected flight schedules, and possibly use different air travel hubs. During the planned government disruption, air travelers should expect some hiccups in scheduled flights. However, travelers should be able to have a pleasant and rewarding air travel experience if they remain flexible and plan accordingly.

The most important thing to remember is that, while the situation could be very frustrating for travelers, unwinding travel stress by properly preparing for the journey will improve the travel experience. Safe travels!