FAA Cuts Flights at 40 Major Airports

As the government shutdown drags on, the Federal Aviation Administration has taken action to protect safety in the skies.

As announced yesterday, the FAA is forcing airlines to cut 10 percent of their flights at 40 of the busiest airports across the nation, to reduce pressure on air traffic controllers—who haven’t been paid since Oct. 1—and to ensure that flying remains safe.

The cuts will start to take effect on Friday, Nov. 7 and are expected to affect 3,500 to 4,000 flights daily, impacting hundreds of thousands of travelers. Passengers should check with their airlines to see if their flight has been cancelled.

Many major airlines are waiving change fees. The Transportation Department said that airlines could decide which flights to cancel, and that international flights had not yet been affected.

The 40 airports affected by FAA cuts and flight cancellations stemming from a record-breaking shutdown:

1. Anchorage International Airport, AK

2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, GA

3. Boston Logan International, MA

4. Baltimore/Washington International, MD

5. Charlotte Douglas International, NC

6. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, KY

7. Dallas Love Field, TX

8. Ronald Reagan Washington National, Arlington, VA

9. Denver International, CO

10. Dallas/Fort Worth International, TX