How FAA Flight Reductions Affect Passenger Travel

With the new Federal Aviation Administration order to scale back flights, air travel is about to get even more complicated for passengers already navigating a turbulent period for U.S. aviation.

“Right now, the Trump administration is planning to reduce air traffic at 40 airports across the United States if the shutdown continues,” Eric Napoli, chief legal officer at AirHelp, told HuffPost. “More specifically, 10% of air traffic would be cut from each airport, which could impact thousands of flights.”

The order, which comes as the administration ramps up pressure on Democrats in Congress to end the shutdown, directs airlines to reduce air traffic at major airports across the U.S., including metropolitan destinations with multiple impacted hubs.

“The first flight cuts from the DOT’s order hit the schedule on Friday ― smaller numbers at first but escalating into next week until the target of 10% is reached,” said Ben Mutzabaugh, managing editor of The Points Guy.

He added that the order was issued in order “to lessen the strain in the U.S. aviation system” in light of the current political impasse.

“Air traffic controllers and other federal workers have not been paid since the beginning of the shutdown, leading to an increase in the absence of controllers and TSA workers and creating staffer shortages at two crucial parts of the aviation system,” Mutzabaugh said.

Without pay, many air traffic controllers have needed to seek work elsewhere to make ends meet.

“Controllers are resigning every day now because of the prolonged nature of the shutdown,” Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, told CNN. “We’re also 400 controllers short ― shorter than we were in the 2019 shutdown.”

In the meantime, lessening the number of flights to oversee could be a way to “add a little more slack back into the system while the shutdown drags on,” Mutzabaugh said of the latest FAA order.

This measure will affect travelers in several ways.

“First, thousands of travelers can expect to have their flights canceled because of the reduction in air traffic,” Napoli said. “If travelers have their flights canceled as a result of this government move, they are entitled to reimbursement from that flight ticket. We’ve already seen airlines communicating this to travelers on social media channels.”