FAA Announces 10% Reduction in Air Traffic Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

Thu Nov 06 2025 03:34:07 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In response to staffing shortages caused by the government shutdown, the FAA will implement a 10% reduction in air traffic across 40 high-volume markets beginning Friday. Thousands of flights will be affected as the situation intensifies.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has declared a 10% reduction in air traffic due to staffing shortages stemming from the ongoing government shutdown. This reduction will impact thousands of flights across 40 major markets, with the FAA facing pressure as air traffic controllers continue to work unpaid since the shutdown commenced on October 1. Discussions with airline executives are underway to ensure the safe implementation of these changes. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford indicated that further measures may be necessary if staffing issues persist.

WASHINGTON (RTW News) — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Wednesday that it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 high-volume markets starting Friday morning due to the ongoing government shutdown, prioritizing safety amid concerns over staffing shortages.

This reduction comes as thousands of flights nationwide will be affected. The FAA has been dealing with critical staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, many of whom have been working without pay since the shutdown began on October 1, leading to increasing flight delays across the country.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that the agency could not afford to wait for a crisis to address these staffing pressures. We can’t ignore it, Bedford stated. He and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy plan to meet with airline executives later Wednesday to discuss the safe implementation of the flight reductions.

Bedford refrained from naming the impacted markets until after discussions with airlines, promising to provide a list on Thursday.

If the pressures continue to build even after we take these measures, we’ll come back and take additional measures, Bedford added. Already, numerous airports across the nation have experienced significant delays, sometimes lasting hours, indicating growing disruptions within the aviation system.

Major airlines and aviation unions have urged Congress to resolve the shutdown, as ongoing issues threaten to collapse both the air travel sector and the well-being of air traffic controllers. Many controllers are working mandatory overtime while struggling to manage their financial responsibilities without receiving their regular paychecks.