The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce scheduled flight capacity by 10% at 40 high-volume U.S. airports, beginning Friday morning, to preserve safety during the ongoing federal shutdown and mounting air-traffic-controller staffing strain. Officials said the reduction will be phased in (about 4% Friday scaling toward 10%) and focused on the 6 a.m.–10 p.m. window when traffic is densest.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford framed the move as a proactive risk-reduction step amid unpaid, fatigued controllers and rising sick-outs; Duffy has warned that continued shutdown conditions could force partial airspace closures if safety margins erode further.

Which airports? ABC obtained the list (examples include ATL, BOS, ORD, LAX, DFW, MIA, DEN, SFO, SEA, IAH, CLT, MSP, PHX, LAS, and the New York area (JFK/LGA/EWR/Teterboro)). The FAA’s formal order with the final roster is expected around the start of implementation.

International flights: Early guidance says long-haul international and hub-to-hub flying should be shielded where possible; United told customers refunds are available to anyone who prefers not to travel, even on nonrefundable/basic-economy tickets. That said, “exempt” does not mean immune from secondary impacts (gate/crew/connection delays or ground-delay programs when sectors are saturated).

Press tallies suggest thousands of flights could be trimmed once the 10% ceiling is fully in force. Reuters and AP independently confirmed the policy and its link to controller shortages during the shutdown.

Industry reaction: Airlines for America and travel groups say they’re working with DOT/FAA to mitigate disruptions and are pressing Congress to end the shutdown. The U.S. Travel Association called the move “urgent but costly,” warning about holiday-period ripple effects.

Main points (key facts)

• Policy: FAA will cap airport throughput -10% across 40 markets to keep operations within safe staffing limits.
• Timing/scale: Starts Friday, ramping from ~4% to 10%; concentrated 6 a.m.–10 p.m. local.
• Scope: New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and other hubs included; final roster to be posted in FAA order.
• International: Long-haul/hub-to-hub prioritized to continue, but indirect delays remain likely.
• Rationale: Controller shortages and fatigue during the shutdown; move is safety-driven per FAA/DOT.

Projections (near-term & international effects)

• Domestic networks: Expect rolled cancellations, longer connection buffers, and ground-delay programs at the busiest facilities, especially mornings/evenings. Airlines will pre-trim to avoid day-of cascades.
• International knock-ons: Even if long-haul departures are protected, arrivals can be meter-ed into constrained terminal airspace, causing holding, diversions, and missed connections onto domestic legs. European and Canadian partners will face slot swaps and retimes to align with U.S. arrival rates.
• Cargo & supply chain: Freight flows through hubs like MEM/ANC/SDF could see overnight sort delays, affecting next-day parcels and belly-cargo in passenger jets.
• Thanksgiving window: If the shutdown persists, expect elevated delay probabilities during peak holiday demand even with schedule thinning. Travel groups are pressing for a fix to avert holiday disruptions.
• Policy/precedent: This is unprecedented in scale per officials; if prolonged, it may spur post-crisis ATC staffing reforms, controller pay/retention incentives, and contingency scheduling protocols that outlast the shutdown.

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References (original + additional sources)

• ABC News (original user source summary & airport list): ABC News
• Reuters, Exclusive: U.S. orders 10% flights cut at major airports: Reuters
• Associated Press: FAA reducing air traffic by 10% across 40 high-volume markets: AP News
• Washington Post: FAA orders 10% cut in flights as shutdown drags on: The Washington Post
• ABC7/6abc local coverage (timing, list context): ABC7 New York+1
• United Airlines CEO update (refunds, long-haul focus): United Airlines
• U.S. Travel Association statement on FAA reductions: U.S. Travel Association
• Prior DOT/FAA warnings on potential airspace closures: Reuters+1