Philadelphia International Airport among 40 airports to have flight capacity reduced by 10% due to shutdown

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The Philadelphia International Airport is among the 40 airports across the country expected to have their flight capacity reduced by 10% due to the government shutdown, according to a list obtained by ABC News.

On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration said it would be reducing flight capacity this week, adding that the decision could cut thousands of flights per day.

The FAA says cuts will go into effect Friday morning, but ABC News has learned some could happen as early as Wednesday.

“Our sole role is to make sure that we keep this airspace as safe as possible. Reduction in capacity at 40 of our locations. This is not based on light airline travel locations. This is about where the pressure is and how to really deviate the pressure,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.

This comes after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said earlier this week that the FAA will be forced to shut down the airspace in some areas if the shutdown continues into next week.

“I hope I can get back,” said Sonya Legere, Downingtown, Pa.

“If my flight gets canceled on Friday, I can’t go to work and I can’t go back to school, so that would be monstrous for me,” added Kirsten Cordova of Savannah, Georgia.

The forthcoming reduction in capacity marks an unprecedented move by the FAA and the Department of Transportation. Bedford said he has never seen this happen before in his 35-year career.

Both Bedford and Duffy emphasized that the decision to cut down flights is a proactive measure based on data the department has reviewed, and the staffing pressures anticipated to grow during the shutdown. Duffy said the action is being taken to “reduce the risk profile in the national airspace.”

Echoing him. Bedford added, “We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent, you know, things from deteriorating. So the system is extremely safe today will be extremely safe tomorrow.”

Travelers say they understand these last-minute adjustments.

“If it’s a safety thing, that’s the most important thing,” said Haili Declouet, Lafayette, La.

Bedford said the cuts to each airline’s flight schedules will be proportionate, adding that the agency recognizes there’s “no perfect solution.”

The FAA said it will consider various factors when finalizing the cuts, including airlines that already operate a less-than-daily service at an airport.

Airlines for America, a trade association representing many major U.S. airlines, released a statement after the announcement, saying, “We are working with the federal government to understand all details of the new reduction mandate and will strive to mitigate impacts to passengers and shippers.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told ABC News that President Donald Trump is aware of the FAA restrictions.

Here’s a list of U.S. airports to be impacted exclusively obtained by ABC News ANC Anchorage International
ATL Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
BOS Boston Logan International
BWI Baltimore/Washington International
CLT Charlotte Douglas International
CVG Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International

DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National

DFW Dallas/Fort Worth International
DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
EWR Newark Liberty International
FLL Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International
HNL Honolulu International

IAD Washington Dulles International
IAH George Bush Houston Intercontinental
IND Indianapolis International
JFK New York John F Kennedy International
LAS Las Vegas McCarran International
LAX Los Angeles International

MCO Orlando International

MEM Memphis International

MSP Minneapolis/St Paul International
OAK Oakland International
ONT Ontario International
ORD Chicago OHare International
PDX Portland International
PHL Philadelphia International
PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor International
SAN San Diego International
SDF Louisville International
SEA Seattle/Tacoma International
SFO San Francisco International
SLC Salt Lake City International

ABC News contributed to this report.

Philadelphia International Airport among 40 airports to have flight capacity reduced by 10% due to shutdown

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