US airport flight cuts: List of airports cutting flights affected by shutdown in US

Travellers are urged to check with their airlines for updates, as major carriers — including United, American, Delta, and Southwest — begin adjusting schedules and rebooking passengers.

Experts warn the cuts could lead to major flight disruptions if the shutdown continues, particularly ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel period. Airlines are expected to prioritise major routes and reduce regional or low-demand flights to minimise passenger inconvenience.

Why US is facing flight disruptions during the government shutdown

The Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to scale back service at high-volume airports is aimed at maintaining travel safety as air traffic controllers face mounting fatigue during the prolonged government shutdown. The move also comes as the Trump administration increases pressure on Democrats in Congress to strike a deal and reopen the government.

“With continued delays and unpredictable staffing shortages that are driving fatigue, risk is further increasing, and the FAA is concerned with the system’s ability to maintain the current volume of operations,” the agency’s order stated.

Just hours before the flight reductions took effect, airlines scrambled to decide which routes to cut. American Airlines announced a 4 per cent reduction in its schedule at the affected airports from Friday through Monday—amounting to roughly 220 cancellations per day—and said it would gradually move toward the FAA’s 10 per cent target. The carrier confirmed that its international routes would remain unaffected for now.

Meanwhile, passengers with weekend travel plans were left uncertain, anxiously monitoring flight updates. Many began adjusting or cancelling itineraries in anticipation of potential disruptions.

(With inputs from Associated Press)