FAA Announces Smaller-Scale Flight Reductions as Controller Staffing Stabilizes Across Major Airports
As air traffic controller staffing improves after the government shutdown, the FAA will reduce flight cuts nationwide. Scheduled flight reductions at 40 major airports will drop to 3% starting Nov. 15, a major change from earlier projections that predicted deeper disruptions. Newark Liberty International Airport and Teterboro Airport, two of the nation’s busiest hubs, have had delays and cancellations all week due to the decision.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the updated plan staffs key control centers and reduces personnel shortage-related daily incidents. The FAA warned days earlier that the shutdown-induced staffing crisis could cancel 10% of flights. Since air traffic teams performed better, the agency’s safety and operations division advised cutting cuts.
Nov. 13 saw few FAA staffing-trigger events, and Nov. 14 saw none. The three Port Authority-managed New York–New Jersey metro airports were not affected by controller shortages, authorities said. Sarah McKeon, Port Authority aviation director, said the agency is ready for federal restrictions to be lifted and normal scheduling. She said all four Port Authority-supervised airports have worked with federal staffing teams.
The system transition delayed Newark Airport by late Friday afternoon. Despite dozens of canceled or delayed flights, officials expect traffic to stabilize after the weekend 3% cutback. Over the next few days, the FAA will evaluate system performance and maintain the updated reduction schedule to determine if full, unrestricted operations can resume sooner.
Initial plans called for a full 10% reduction by Friday. Improved staffing allows federal officials to take a more measured approach, avoiding traveler-expected cancellations. Regional airlines and airport authorities are closely monitoring the situation as they await FAA guidance on when regular flight volumes may resume.
Sources
FAA statements
U.S. Transportation Department briefings
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey remarks
Flight operation data from airport reports
