FAA flight cancellations: Affected US airports, airline updates and passenger advice
November 7, 2025
Thousands of flights are being reduced across the United States beginning today, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) orders airlines to scale back operations at 40 major airports. The move, triggered by the ongoing government shutdown, is intended to ease mounting pressure on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay for over a month.
The FAA’s directive calls for a phased reduction of scheduled domestic flights, beginning with a 4% cut and rising to as much as 10% by mid-November if the shutdown continues. The measure applies to departures between 06:00 and 22:00 local time and targets the country’s busiest hubs, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, and the New York airports.
Officials have described the move as a pre-emptive safety step, aimed at preventing fatigue-related risks in the national airspace system. The first wave of cancellations is estimated to total around 700 flights today, 7 November, with the number expected to climb steadily in the days ahead.
Long-haul international services are currently exempt, but domestic travellers face widespread disruption across much of the network.
| Airport | Main domestic airlines affected |
|---|---|
| Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta (ATL) | Delta, Southwest, Frontier |
| Boston Logan (BOS) | JetBlue, Delta, American |
| Baltimore/Washington (BWI) | Southwest, American, Spirit |
| Charlotte Douglas (CLT) | American, Delta, United |
| Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG) | Delta, Allegiant, Frontier |
| Dallas Love Field (DAL) | Southwest |
| Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) | American, Spirit, Frontier |
| Denver International (DEN) | United, Southwest, Frontier |
| Detroit Metropolitan (DTW) | Delta, Spirit, Southwest |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | JetBlue, Spirit, Southwest |
| George Bush Intercontinental, Houston (IAH) | United, Southwest, Frontier |
| William P. Hobby, Houston (HOU) | Southwest |
| Indianapolis (IND) | American, Delta, Southwest |
| John F. Kennedy, New York (JFK) | JetBlue, Delta, American (domestic) |
| LaGuardia, New York (LGA) | Delta, American, Southwest |
| Los Angeles International (LAX) | Delta, American, Southwest, Alaska |
| Chicago Midway (MDW) | Southwest |
| Chicago O’Hare (ORD) | United, American, Delta |
| Miami International (MIA) | American, Delta, Frontier (domestic) |
| Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP) | Delta, Sun Country, Southwest |
| Newark Liberty (EWR) | United, Delta, American (domestic) |
| Orlando International (MCO) | Southwest, Frontier, Spirit, JetBlue |
| Philadelphia International (PHL) | American, Frontier, Southwest |
| Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) | American, Southwest, Frontier |
| Portland (PDX) | Alaska, Southwest, Delta |
| Raleigh–Durham (RDU) | Delta, Southwest, Frontier |
| Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) | American, Delta, JetBlue |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | United, Delta, Southwest |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | Delta, Southwest, Alaska |
| San Diego (SAN) | Southwest, Alaska, Delta |
| San Francisco (SFO) | United, Alaska, Southwest |
| Seattle–Tacoma (SEA) | Alaska, Delta, Southwest |
| Tampa International (TPA) | Southwest, Frontier, Delta |
| Louisville Muhammad Ali (SDF) | Southwest, American, Delta |
| Honolulu (HNL) | Hawaiian, Southwest, Alaska (intra-US only) |
| Oakland International (OAK) | Southwest, Alaska, Spirit |
| Ontario International (ONT) | Southwest, Frontier, Alaska |
| Harry Reid International, Las Vegas (LAS) | Southwest, Spirit, Frontier |
| Anchorage (ANC) | Alaska, Delta (domestic) |
Airlines cancel hundreds of flights as FAA shutdown directive kicks in
Major U.S. carriers have begun implementing the FAA directive, trimming schedules and alerting passengers to expect cancellations and potential delays.
American Airlines has removed approximately 220 flights per day from its schedule between Friday and Monday, focusing on reducing congestion at the most affected airports. The carrier stressed that cancelling flights is the last resort, but said the temporary reductions were unavoidable under the federal order.
United Airlines confirmed a reduction of about 4% of its flights through the weekend, equivalent to fewer than 200 daily cancellations across its network. The airline said it is prioritising hub-to-hub and international routes while trimming regional and non-core services where possible.
Delta Air Lines is cancelling roughly 170 flights today, with fewer expected over the weekend. The airline said the vast majority of its operations will continue as planned and emphasised that all long-haul international flights remain unaffected.
Southwest Airlines has also started adjusting its schedule and published detailed customer guidance on rebooking options and refund eligibility. Frontier Airlines, meanwhile, has introduced a flexible travel policy allowing passengers to modify their plans without fees or fare differences.
As of this morning, no public updates have been issued by JetBlue, Spirit or Allegiant regarding their response to the directive. However, all airlines are required to comply with the phased capacity reductions and are expected to adjust schedules accordingly over the coming days.
| Airline | What they’ve said / policy update | Rebooking and refund advice |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines (AA) | Removed around 220 flights per day between 7–10 Nov under the FAA directive. Prioritising safety and protecting mainline hubs. | Free rebooking on affected routes for travel through 15 Nov. Full refund available if flight is cancelled or significantly delayed. |
| United Airlines (UA) | Cut about 4 % of flights system-wide through the weekend. Focusing cancellations on regional routes, keeping hub-to-hub intact. | Waiving change fees and fare differences for rebooked travel through 15 Nov. Refunds offered on cancelled flights. |
| Delta Air Lines (DL) | Cancelled roughly 170 flights on 7 Nov; smaller cuts over the weekend. Emphasises “safety first” and continuity for long-haul operations. | Issued flexible travel waiver for 7–9 Nov across all 40 affected airports. Rebook without fees; refunds available for cancellations. |
| Southwest Airlines (WN) | Adjusting schedules at major hubs (DAL, MDW, HOU, DEN). Communicating directly via app and email with affected customers. | Change flights within 14 days of original date with no fare difference. Refunds processed automatically for cancellations. |
| JetBlue Airways (B6) | No formal statement yet. Expected to align with FAA-mandated capacity limits at JFK, BOS, FLL and LGA. | Standard policy applies: free rebooking if flight cancelled; full refund on request. |
| Spirit Airlines (NK) | Has not issued a dedicated statement. Expected to reduce operations at FLL, MCO, LAS and DFW as FAA cuts take effect. | Free rebooking within 7 days of cancelled flight; refunds offered through customer-service channels. |
| Frontier Airlines (F9) | Confirmed “flexible travel policy” in response to FAA directive. Advises passengers to check email or manage bookings online. | Modify travel dates at no charge or request full refund if flight is cancelled. |
| Allegiant Air (G4) | No official update released. Likely to see limited disruption due to smaller network and less hub dependency. | Standard policy remains: rebooking or refund if flight is cancelled. |
Across the board, carriers have echoed the same message: safety comes first. Most say they are working to minimise disruption by targeting low-demand or redundant frequencies, while preserving critical connections between key markets.
Passenger rights and refunds during FAA flight cancellations
For passengers, the new wave of cancellations raises a number of questions about rights, refunds, and rebooking.
Travellers whose flights are cancelled by the airline are entitled to a full refund, even on non-refundable tickets, if they choose not to travel. Those wishing to continue their journey can rebook without paying additional change fees, though availability may be limited as the cuts progress.
Since the cancellations are being made under a federal safety directive rather than an airline-specific fault, carriers are not legally required to provide hotel accommodation, meal vouchers or ground transport in the event of disruption. Passengers should therefore plan accordingly, especially if their trip involves connections through one of the affected hubs.
Frontier CEO Barry Biffle took to social media to offer advice, suggesting passengers buy more than one ticket to avoid disappointing delays on the day.
Airlines are urging customers to monitor their flight status regularly through mobile apps or official websites. With capacity being deliberately reduced, last-minute schedule changes may be unavoidable.
The FAA has said that airlines must process refunds promptly and that non-compliance could result in civil penalties. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the flight reductions as a necessary precaution, not a sign of failure, and stressed that the agency “will restrict the airspace when safety is at risk.”
FAA flight reduction directive marks major air traffic slowdown
This is one of the most sweeping operational interventions the FAA has undertaken in peacetime, reflecting the strain of the shutdown on the aviation system. Airlines, already stretched by post-pandemic staffing challenges, now face the task of rebuilding schedules around reduced airspace capacity while maintaining customer trust.
If the shutdown continues, analysts warn that more aggressive measures could follow — including deeper cuts, extended slot restrictions, or even temporary airspace closures in regions where controller availability falls below safe thresholds. For now, passengers can expect a slower, thinner domestic network and a new kind of disruption: one driven not by weather or demand, but by the government’s ability to keep its aviation workforce functioning safely.
