Miami, FL – Travelers flying in and out of South Florida are preparing for major disruptions after the Federal Aviation Administration instructed airlines to scale back traffic at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport due to the ongoing government shutdown.
According to FlightAware, more than 760 flights scheduled for Friday nationwide had already been canceled by Thursday evening, a figure expected to rise as airlines adjust their operations at affected airports.
FLL and MIA are among 40 airports selected for mandatory traffic cuts across more than two dozen states.
The FAA order calls for a four percent reduction in scheduled operations beginning Friday, increasing to ten percent by November 14.
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The limits will apply daily from six in the morning to ten at night and affect all commercial carriers operating at both South Florida airports.
International flights are exempt from the reductions.
The FAA stated that the changes are necessary to maintain safe operations as air traffic controllers continue working through staffing shortages linked to the shutdown.
Airlines began adjusting their schedules shortly after the directive was issued.
Carriers operating at FLL and MIA are expected to cancel flights across multiple domestic routes, and some may target service to small and mid sized markets first.
American Airlines, which has a major presence at MIA, said it removed about four percent of its flights through Monday as an initial step.
Passengers traveling through South Florida this weekend have already begun modifying plans due to uncertainty about cancellations.
Industry projections estimate that nationwide cuts could affect up to 1,800 flights per day until controller staffing levels improve and safety metrics stabilize.