The Shutdown Didn’t Make Flying Dangerous — It Made It Slow.

Controllers are exhausted, not reckless. Here’s what that means for your weekend trip.

Nov 07, 2025

Hey Crew,

Checking in from a quiet hotel room on layover.

.
There’s a strange energy out there today, half frustration, half disbelief.

We’ve officially hit Day 38 of the U.S. government shutdown, and it’s finally spilled over into aviation in a big way.

Starting today (Friday, Nov 7), the FAA is cutting flight capacity at about 40 major airports: ATL, ORD, DFW, EWR, LAX, and more.
Not because of weather.
Not because the tech broke.
Simply because the people who keep airplanes moving safely are stretched as far as they can go.

🛫 What’s Actually Going On

Air traffic controllers, the voices in our headsets guiding us around the sky have been working without pay for more than a month. Imagine showing up to one of the hardest jobs in the country and not getting a paycheck. They’re exhausted. Many are calling out sick. Some just can’t keep doing this for free.

Staffing issues have been reported more than 400 times, about 4× more than last year.
Eventually, something has to give. So the FAA is slowing things down before tired controllers start making mistakes. That’s the right move.

The plan is simple:
~4% fewer flights today
…ramping to ~10% by next Friday if nothing changes.

Airlines have already started canceling flights. No carrier is immune.

And honestly?
I’m glad they’re pulling back. Safety comes first. Always.

🚨 It’s Not Just ATC

This shutdown has hit everyone who keeps aviation running:

✅ TSA officers
They’re also unpaid and still showing up.
Some can’t afford the commute anymore, and call-outs are rising. That’s why security lines are getting longer at some airports.

✅ FAA safety inspectors & technical staff
Many are on furlough or heavily reduced staffing.

✅ Support teams across airports & airlines
Schedulers, ramp crews, dispatchers the whole machine gets slower when key parts are under strain.

Aviation is a giant team.
When one group is hurting, eventually everyone feels it.

🙏 A Quick Thank-You to ATC

I want to call this out because it matters.

Controllers are still there. Still showing up.
Still keeping airplanes safely separated even though they haven’t been paid in weeks.

Every time I’m flying right now, I take a second to thank whichever controller is working us. I know they’re under incredible pressure. They keep doing the job anyway.

If you’re flying, just remember:
Your flight is safe because people you’ll never meet are quietly holding the entire system together.

They deserve more than a paycheck.
They deserve a raise and a vacation.

The 40 Airports Facing Flight Reductions

Here’s the complete list of airports that will see reduced capacity. If you’re flying through any of these, pay extra attention:

West Coast:

Seattle (SEA)
Portland (PDX)
San Francisco (SFO)
Los Angeles (LAX)
San Diego (SAN)
Las Vegas (LAS)
Phoenix (PHX)
Salt Lake City (SLC)
Anchorage (ANC)
Honolulu (HNL)

Mountain & Central:

Denver (DEN)
Minneapolis (MSP)
Chicago (ORD/MDW)
Indianapolis (IND)
Detroit (DTW)
Louisville (SDF)
Memphis (MEM)
Dallas (DFW/DAL)
Houston (IAH/HOU)

Southeast:

Atlanta (ATL)
Charlotte (CLT)
Orlando (MCO)
Tampa (TPA)
Miami (MIA)

Northeast:

Boston (BOS)
New York (JFK/LGA/EWR)
Philadelphia (PHL)
Washington DC (DCA/IAD/BWI)

This covers virtually every major hub in the country. Even if your local airport isn’t on this list, you’ll likely be affected if you’re connecting through any of these cities.

🧭 If You’re Traveling…

A few simple things you can do to save yourself a lot of stress:

1) Check your flight early and often
Use your airline app.
Really. Things are changing by the hour.

2) Give yourself time
Even if your flight makes it, delays are likely.
At Newark, 3-hour ground delays are already happening.
Connections? Try to give yourself 2–3 hours. Anything tighter is a gamble.

3) Have a backup idea
With capacity cut, rebooking could take a while.
If the trip is critical, consider grabbing a refundable backup ticket. Expensive, yes. Cheaper than sleeping on an airport floor.

4) Know your rights
If your flight is canceled or delayed 3+ hours (6+ international), you can get a refund or rebooking.
Be kind to gate agents, none of this is their fault but advocate for yourself.

5) Airline Policies
Here’s what the major carriers are offering right now:

United: Full refunds available even if your flight wasn’t canceled, including basic economy tickets
American: 220 flights per day canceled through Monday; no-penalty changes or refunds available
Delta: 170 Friday cancellations; waiving fare differences for rebooking, refunds upon request
JetBlue: Automatic rebooking, full refunds if you choose not to travel
Frontier: Change and cancellation fees waived (but you pay fare difference for rebooking)

If your flight is canceled, you’re entitled to a full refund not just a voucher. If you accept a significantly delayed flight, you’re waiving your right to compensation, so choose carefully.

😟 For My Nervous Flyers

I know this looks scary.
Here’s the truth:

Flying is still safe.

The only reason flights are getting cut is to keep it safe to make sure the people watching the radar screens aren’t pushed past their limits.

Pilots still have full ATC support. Controllers are still on the job.

This is about protecting margins, not taking risks.

I’ve been flying for more than 25 years.
I would never get in that cockpit if safety weren’t protected.

🔭 Looking Ahead

Here’s something important to understand: even if your local airport isn’t on that list of 40, you’re probably still affected. Nearly 70% of domestic flights either depart from or arrive at one of these airports. The ripple effects are nationwide.

The reality is this situation could extend through the holiday season if the shutdown continues. Thanksgiving is three weeks away, and that’s what has everyone in the industry worried. We’re already seeing the strain, and if this drags on, the busiest travel period of the year could be a nightmare.

If you’re planning to fly for the holidays, start making your arrangements now. The earlier you book, the more options you’ll have if things change. And given how things are going, assume they will change.

This isn’t how any of us want to see our aviation system operate. But I trust the professionals making these calls, from the controllers in the towers to the administrators at the FAA. They’re doing what’s necessary to keep us all safe.

Hang in there, and I’ll keep you updated as things develop.

But I’m curious…
Has this shutdown affected your travel plans yet?
Delayed connections, long TSA lines, or just anxiety watching the news — I’d love to hear what you’re seeing out there.
Drop a comment below 👇🏻

Clear skies soon (fingers crossed)

PIlot Nick