Full List of Airports That Could Cut Flights Due to Government Shutdown

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Wednesday it will scale back air traffic by 10 percent at 40 major U.S. airports as the government shutdown continues.

Why It Matters

The news comes as the ongoing shutdown became the longest in U.S. history this week and poses potentially significant implications for passengers and airlines alike as thousands of daily flights could be cut.

What To Know

As reported by multiple outlets, citing sources familiar with discussions, the list of airports that could see cuts is as follows:

Anchorage InternationalHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta InternationalBoston Logan InternationalBaltimore/Washington InternationalCharlotte Douglas InternationalCincinnati/Northern Kentucky InternationalDallas LoveRonald Reagan Washington NationalDenver InternationalDallas/Fort Worth InternationalDetroit Metropolitan Wayne CountyNewark Liberty InternationalFort Lauderdale/Hollywood InternationalHonolulu InternationalHouston HobbyWashington Dulles InternationalGeorge Bush Houston IntercontinentalIndianapolis InternationalNew York John F Kennedy InternationalLas Vegas Harry Reid InternationalLos Angeles InternationalNew York LaGuardiaOrlando InternationalChicago MidwayMemphis InternationalMiami InternationalMinneapolis/St Paul InternationalOakland InternationalOntario InternationalChicago O’Hare InternationalPortland InternationalPhiladelphia InternationalPhoenix Sky Harbor InternationalSan Diego InternationalLouisville InternationalSeattle/Tacoma InternationalSan Francisco InternationalSalt Lake City InternationalTeterboroTampa International

Newsweek could not independently verify the list and reached out to the FAA and Department of Transportation for an official list and comment early Thursday.

What People Are Saying

FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said on Wednesday: “I want to applaud the controllers who continue to come to work on a daily basis, keeping our system safe, but I also want to acknowledge that the data is showing us we need to do more. We are going to do more, and I want to reassure the American travelers that it is absolutely safe to fly in the American skies.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a post on X, Friday: “Nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks, ensuring the safety of more than 50,000 daily operations across the national airspace system (NAS).

“As we head into this weekend, a surge in callouts is straining staffing levels at multiple facilities, leading to widespread impacts across the NAS. Currently, half of our Core 30 facilities are experiencing staffing shortages, and nearly 80 percent of air traffic controllers are absent at New York–area facilities.

“After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue. The shutdown must end so that these controllers receive the pay they’ve earned and travelers can avoid further disruptions and delays.

“As we continue to reiterate, we will never compromise on safety. When staffing shortages occur, the FAA will reduce the flow of air traffic to maintain safety. This may result in delays or cancellations.

“For real-time updates at U.S. airports due to staffing, weather, or other factors, please visit http://nasstatus.faa.gov and check with your airline before going to the airport.”

What Happens Next

The list above may be subject to change. The restrictions are expected to begin on Friday, Newsweek reported previously.