ORLANDO, Fla. – The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce flight operations by 10% across 40 high-volume U.S. airports, citing an acute air traffic controller staffing crisis that has been made worse by the protracted federal shutdown. The phased slow-down begins Friday and is expected to reach the full 10% next week. Airlines say they’re trimming schedules and offering flexibility, but travelers should brace for cancellations and delays.
Estimates from aviation analytics firm Cirium suggest that roughly 1,800 flights per day will be cut, translating to a loss of about 268,000 passenger seats. The full force of the impact could be concentrated at the country’s busiest hubs including New York, Washington, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Dallas.
The FAA and DOT say air traffic controller fatigue and unpaid work during the shutdown have compounded an already short-staffed system, forcing a preemptive capacity slow-down to preserve safety. Industry groups and airline unions have been warning for weeks that missed paychecks would push absenteeism higher and snarl holiday travel.
Rolling schedule cuts and day-of disruptions will occur as airlines rebalance fleets and crews around the FAA caps. Passengers can expect longer lines at security checkpoints and airline counters as well as the possibility of missing connections especially in the busy northeast part of the country.
Thanks to new Department of Transportation (DOT) automatic-refund rules (finalized in October of 2024), passengers have clear protections if a trip is upended:
- If your flight is cancelled and you don’t accept rebooking: you’re owed a cash refund to your original form of payment (no vouchers unless you choose them).
- Refunds must be automatic and prompt (generally 7 business days for credit card purchases).
- If your flight is “significantly changed” and you decline the new itinerary, you’re owed a refund. DOT defines “significant change” as:
- Domestic: 3+ hours earlier departure or 3+ hours later arrival
- International: 6+ hours earlier departure or 6+ hours later arrival
- Change of origin/destination airport, more connections, downgrade of class, or accessibility-reducing changes for travelers with disabilities
- Ancillary fees (seat selection, Wi-Fi, etc.) must be refunded if the service isn’t provided; checked-bag fees must be refunded if bags miss DOT’s delivery time thresholds
- These refund rights apply regardless of the cause (including ATC-driven cuts). You don’t have to accept a voucher or travel credit unless that’s your preference.
[BELOW: MCO among 40 airports on FAA flight reduction list]
So far, we’ve heard from the three legacy carriers (American, Delta, and United) that they’ll waive change fees and allow refunds for those who don’t want to travel during the affected window. Those carriers have publicly broadened flexibility even for restrictive fare classes.
What should you do if you’re booked to fly?
- Check your flight status in the airline app or online before you leave for the airport. Watch for schedule revisions that meet DOT’s “significant change” thresholds.
- If an airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you don’t want to travel, decline rebooking and request a refund (again, you’re owed an automatic one, but asking can speed things up).
- If you still need to travel after a cancellation, accept a rebook, but know that accepting the new itinerary typically waives the refund right for that ticket.
- Document everything (emails, app messages, screenshots). If a refund drags beyond the timelines, file a DOT complaint.
The bottom line: the FAA’s 10% cap is designed to slow down the system to keep it safe while controller staffing stabilizes. It will likely disrupt thousands of trips daily, but federal rules now guarantee cash refunds when airlines cancel or significantly change your flight, and you choose not to travel.