US warns flight cuts could rise to 20% if shutdown continues

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Friday that airlines could be forced to cut up to 20% of flights if the ongoing government shutdown is not resolved soon, as carriers began implementing mandated service reductions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered airlines to cut 4% of flights on Friday at 40 major airports, with reductions set to increase to 6% next Tuesday and 10% by November 14. The cuts come as thousands of air traffic controllers continue working without pay, leading to rising absenteeism.

On Friday, staff shortages resulted in additional flight delays at major airports including Atlanta, San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and Newark. By 7:30 p.m. ET, more than 5,300 flights had been delayed, according to FlightAware.

At Reagan Washington National Airport, delays averaged around four hours, with 17% of flights cancelled and nearly 40% delayed.

The government shutdown has now lasted 38 days. Around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 airport security screeners have been working without pay, with many receiving notice they will not be paid for a second pay period.

The Trump administration has urged Democrats to accept a Republican funding proposal to reopen the government, while Democrats argue Republicans are responsible for the impasse because they refuse to negotiate on health insurance subsidy extensions.

Duffy said flight cuts could rise to 20% if staff shortages continue. “We’re going to make decisions based on what we see in the airspace,” he said.

About 700 flights from major carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines were affected by Friday’s initial reductions.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted an image of a departure board filled with cancelled flights, blaming the shutdown for widespread disruptions.

This week, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said that 20–40% of controllers were not reporting to work on some days.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom warned that while initial impacts may be manageable, continued cuts would become increasingly difficult for airlines and passengers. American cancelled 220 flights on Friday, affecting about 12,000 passengers.

United Airlines said it rebooked about half of affected customers within four hours. The carrier cancelled 184 flights Friday and expects more cancellations through the weekend.

The FAA has also placed limits on private aviation at busy airports and may restrict space launches to reduce strain on air traffic controllers. International flights are not currently affected.