FAA orders temporary 10% reduction in flights at 40 major U.S. airports, including Newark and Teterboro

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford on Thursday announced a series of proactive measures to maintain safety in the national airspace system, including a temporary 10 percent reduction in flights at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports — among them Newark Liberty International Airport and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.

The decision comes amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has left air traffic controllers working without pay and increased strain on operations nationwide. FAA officials said staffing shortages and fatigue have risen at air traffic facilities, contributing to 2,740 flight delays reported this past weekend across the country.

“My department has many responsibilities, but our number one job is safety. This isn’t about politics – it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking.”

“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “The FAA will continue to closely monitor operations, and we will not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe.”

Under the FAA’s emergency order, flight reductions will begin with a 4 percent cut in operations on Friday, November 7, increasing to 6 percent by November 11, 8 percent by November 13, and reaching 10 percent by November 14.

Additional actions will include:

• Limiting visual flight rule (VFR) approaches at facilities with staffing concerns.
• Restricting commercial space launches to non-peak hours, prohibiting them between 11:01 a.m. and 2:59 p.m. UTC.
• Prohibiting parachute operations and photo missions near affected air traffic control facilities.

The FAA said these measures were informed by safety data, including confidential reports filed by pilots and controllers indicating growing operational stress.

Airlines will be required to issue full refunds for canceled flights, though they will not be obligated to cover additional costs such as meals or accommodations — standard procedure when cancellations occur beyond the carrier’s control.

The order does not require reductions in international flights, and airlines will decide which domestic routes to adjust to meet the targets. The FAA said changes to the reductions will depend on real-time safety evaluations and staffing levels.

The temporary flight reductions will affect 40 major U.S. airports, including Newark Liberty International Airport and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, as well as major hubs such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles International, and New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports. A full list of affected airports is available on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s website.

The FAA emphasized that despite the reductions, “the system remains safe,” and said it will continue to work with airlines and industry partners to minimize disruptions for travelers.

The full emergency order can be viewed on the FAA’s website.