The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a 10% reduction in air traffic across 40 of the nation’s busiest airports beginning November 7th, citing safety concerns amid staffing shortages. The measure will be phased in gradually, starting with a 4% reduction and ramping up to 10% over the next several days. Major hubs expected to be affected include Atlanta (ATL), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), and New York-area airports (JFK, LGA, EWR). The cuts could impact thousands of daily flights, leading to increased cancellations, delays, and extended wait times at airports nationwide.
Commercial operations will continue, but travelers should anticipate significant disruptions to domestic routes and potential ripple effects on international travel connections. Airlines such as United, American, and Delta have announced flexible rebooking and refund options for passengers impacted by the reductions. Travelers are advised to reconfirm flight status before heading to the airport, allow additional time for check-in and security, and monitor official airline and FAA communications for updates.