The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Wednesday that air traffic would be slashed by 10% beginning on Friday at 40 of the busiest airports in the United States. CBS News reported Thursday morning that it had obtained the list of the airports facing major flight disruptions due to the FAA’s decision.
The airports affected stretch from coast to coast and include New York’s John F. Kennedy International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Chicago O’Hare International, and Los Angeles International. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a press conference on Wednesday that the FAA is taking “proactive” steps to “keep the airspace safe” amid the government shutdown, which is now the longest in U.S. history.
The reduction in air traffic comes just weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday, which is typically the busiest travel weekend of the year in the United States. Here’s the complete list reported by CBS News and compiled in alphabetical order:
- Anchorage International (ANC)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Boston Logan International (BOS)
- Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
- Dallas Love (DAL)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- Denver International (DEN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
- Newark Liberty International (EWR)
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
- Honolulu International (HNL)
- Houston Hobby (HOU)
- Washington Dulles International (IAD)
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
- Indianapolis International (IND)
- New York John F Kennedy International (JFK)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
- Los Angeles International (LAX)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- Orlando International (MCO)
- Chicago Midway (MDW)
- Memphis International (MEM)
- Miami International (MIA)
- Minneapolis/St Paul International (MSP)
- Oakland International (OAK)
- Ontario International (ONT)
- Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
- Portland International (PDX)
- Philadelphia International (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
- San Diego International (SAN)
- Louisville International (SDF)
- Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)
- San Francisco International (SFO)
- Salt Lake City International (SLC)
- Teterboro (TEB)
- Tampa International (TPA)
Due to the government shutdown, air traffic controllers have gone weeks without pay, leading some to call in sick and seek work elsewhere. In an interview on “Fox & Friends” Thursday morning, Duffy said, “We receive increased pressure in these 40 markets, and we looked at the data — this is data-driven — and so taking 10% of the flights out will reduce that pressure.”
We are assessing the risk in the airspace. Delays and cancellations will be based on which controllers are coming to work.
Reducing 10% of flight volume will reduce the pressure on controllers, while prioritizing safety, and getting more flights out on time. pic.twitter.com/AbMyfyJCV0
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 6, 2025
Duffy added that he’s hopeful the decision to cut air traffic will result in more flights departing on time.
“We had massive delays at Newark early in the summer, and we reduced the capacity at Newark, and all the flights flew on time. There were no more delays,” he said. “I can’t guarantee that’s the case here, but I’m hopeful that we’re going to have more on-time flights, less cancellations.”
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said on Wednesday that the decision to cut back on air traffic was due to evidence that air traffic controller fatigue has been increasing.
“We do recognize that the controllers have been working fastidiously for the last five weeks with this huge burden over their heads [from] lack of compensation,” Bedford said. “We are starting to see some evidence that fatigue is starting to build in the system in ways we feel we need to work toward relieving some of that pressure.”
Both Bedford and Duffy stressed the importance of taking precautionary measures to ensure air travel remains safe during the air traffic controller shortage.
“Our primary mission at the FAA is to manage airspace in the safest manner possible,” said Bedford. “That is our only focus.”
