FAA Grounds Flights Nationwide: 40 Major Airports Hit by Service Cuts Amid Government Shutdown

Air travelers across the U.S. are facing massive disruptions as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a nationwide flight reduction impacting 40 major airports, including Boston Logan, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, and Los Angeles International.

The FAA confirmed that the move comes as part of a scaled-back service plan due to the ongoing government shutdown, which has stretched on since October 1 and left thousands of federal employees working without pay.

“As we start to implement this drawdown in service, it will be restricted to these 40 high-volume traffic markets,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said. “We’re going to ask the airlines to work with us collaboratively to reduce their schedules.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy added that overall flight capacity will drop by 10%, affecting 3,500 to 4,000 flights daily.

Major airlines — including Delta, United, and Frontier — have rolled out waivers and flexible travel policies, allowing passengers to change or cancel trips without penalty.

Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle even urged travelers to double up on tickets:

“If you are flying Friday or in the next ten days and need to be there or don’t want to be stranded, I highly recommend booking a backup ticket on another carrier,” Biffle wrote on Instagram. “Don’t book a basic ticket. Book Economy so you can reuse the ticket value as changes are free. If your flight is canceled, your chances of being stranded are high.”

Despite the shutdown, air traffic controllers and TSA screeners will continue to work — though staffing shortages could further slow operations.

Airports Affected Include:

• Boston Logan International (BOS)

• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL)

• Los Angeles International (LAX)

• New York JFK & LaGuardia

• Chicago O’Hare (ORD)

• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)

• Miami International (MIA)

• San Francisco International (SFO)

• Seattle-Tacoma (SEA)

• Washington Dulles (IAD)
  (Full list available on FAA.gov)

With thousands of flights grounded, travelers are urged to check flight status frequently, avoid basic fares, and arrive early as airports brace for long lines and limited operations.