With only hours’ notice, the US administration released the list of airports that will face scheduled slowdowns. Reductions begin at roughly 4 percent on Friday, deepen over the weekend, and are planned to reach 10 percent by next Friday. Airlines had already begun cancelling and consolidating flights before the list became public, concentrating cuts on routes that give them operational flexibility, the New York Times reported.
Why these airports
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) targeted regions where controller absences and overtime have been most acute. Facilities were strained even before the shutdown. Since the budget freeze, controllers have been working without pay, and absence rates have spiked. The list blends the FAA’s Core 30 busiest commercial hubs with several midsize passenger airports, major cargo nodes, and business-jet airfields.
The big hubs on the list
Core 30 airports include Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore-Washington, Charlotte, Washington National, Denver, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit, Newark, Fort Lauderdale, Honolulu, Washington Dulles, Houston Intercontinental, New York JFK, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, LaGuardia, Orlando, Chicago Midway, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago O’Hare, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle-Tacoma, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Tampa. These hubs anchor the national network, so cuts here can ripple to smaller cities through missed connections and crew dislocations.
Midsize, cargo, and private-jet fields
Additional reductions are set for Anchorage, Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky, Dallas Love Field, Houston Hobby, Indianapolis, Louisville, Oakland, Ontario in California, Portland, and New Jersey’s Teterboro. Several of these handle heavy freight or business aviation, which means schedule changes could affect e-commerce flows and corporate travel.
What travellers should expect
Airlines will prioritize long-haul and international operations where possible and trim regional or off-peak frequencies. Even if your flight is not cancelled, plan for longer lines and rolling delays as ground holds and miles-in-trail spacing slow departures. Rebooking policies vary by carrier, but most are waiving change fees and issuing refunds if you choose not to travel during the slowdown.
How to reduce disruption
Monitor your booking in the airline app, track where your inbound aircraft is coming from, and sign up for text alerts. Give yourself extra time at the airport and consider morning departures, which are less exposed to later network knock-ons. If your trip is time-critical, some experts suggest holding a fully refundable backup ticket on another carrier or considering rail or bus alternatives on short-haul routes.
The outlook
Officials say the cuts are temporary pressure-relief measures. Industry groups warn that even a quick resolution will take days to unwind as crews and aircraft return to position. With the holiday rush approaching, any additional staffing shocks or weather events could magnify delays across the system. For now, the best strategy is vigilance, flexibility and early contingency planning.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
