South Florida airports among 40 nationwide facing FAA flight reductions

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Wednesday that it will cut flight capacity by up to 10% at 40 major airports across the country, including South Florida’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport.

The move comes amid the longest U.S. federal shutdown in history, which has left 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents working without pay.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the reductions will go into effect Friday morning, starting at 4% and gradually increasing to 10% of flights scheduled between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The cuts apply primarily to domestic flights, with international routes exempt. The FAA is still finalizing its official order, expected Thursday, which will include detailed guidance on the reductions.

“Our sole role is to make sure that we keep this airspace as safe as possible,” Bedford said during the press conference. “This is not about light airline travel locations. It’s about where the pressure is and how to really deviate the pressure.” Duffy added that if the shutdown continues into next week, the FAA could be forced to shut down airspace in some areas.

United Airlines said it will not cut long-haul international or hub-to-hub flights. Customers seeking refunds on affected flights, including non-refundable or basic economy tickets, will be able to do so, with updates sent via app, email, and push notifications. Airlines for America, a trade association representing major U.S. carriers, said it is working with the federal government to understand the mandate and mitigate passenger and cargo impacts.

List of airports facing reductions:

• Anchorage International

  

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International

• Boston Logan International

• Baltimore/Washington International

  - Advertisement -

  

• Charlotte Douglas International

• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International

• Dallas Love Field

• Ronald Reagan Washington National

• Denver International

• Dallas/Fort Worth International

• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

• Newark Liberty International

• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International

• Honolulu International

• Houston Hobby

• Washington Dulles International

• George Bush Houston Intercontinental

• Indianapolis International

• New York John F. Kennedy International

• Las Vegas McCarran International

• Los Angeles International

• New York LaGuardia

• Orlando International

• Chicago Midway

• Memphis International

• Miami International

• Minneapolis/St. Paul International

• Oakland International

• Ontario International

• Chicago O’Hare International

• Portland International

• Philadelphia International

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International

• San Diego International

• Louisville International

• Seattle/Tacoma International

• San Francisco International

• Salt Lake City International

• Teterboro

• Tampa International

Sources indicate that the reductions could begin as early as Thursday, though the FAA has not yet confirmed that schedule. The agency said it will consider factors such as airlines that already operate less-than-daily services at a given airport when finalizing cuts.

Passengers planning to travel through South Florida airports over the weekend are advised to check their airline apps for updates and prepare for potential delays or cancellations.