Direct answer: As of now, the FAA has announced that 40 major U.S. airports will experience a roughly 10% reduction in air traffic due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. The specific airports are being released by the FAA, with reporting indicating major hubs across Atlanta, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, and other large systems are included. For travelers, this means increased risk of flight delays and cancellations at those airports starting as soon as the announced effective date. Context and details:
- The plan is to cut air traffic capacity by about 10% at 40 high-traffic airports to cope with the shutdown effects on staffing and resources. This is a nationwide measure intended to be implemented over the coming days, with official lists of affected airports to be published by the FAA. The move is described by multiple outlets as a response to the shutdown impacting air traffic controllers and related personnel who have been working without pay.
- Preliminary reports point to include, among others, large hubs such as Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta, Los Angeles International, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare, John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark, Orlando, Denver, and San Francisco, though the final official airport list should be consulted for precise, current details. News coverage and agency briefings have continually referenced these airports as part of the affected set.
- Travel planning should account for potential ripple effects: longer wait times at security and check-in, higher probability of gate changes, and possible schedule shifts as carriers adapt to the reduced airspace capacity. Airlines and airports are communicating with passengers about expected disruptions as the situation evolves.
If you’d like, I can pull the latest official FAA list of affected airports and provide a concise, up-to-date summary with the exact airport names and IATA codes, plus any recommended next steps for affected travel plans.
