Regulatory Alert: DOT and FAA Leaders Announce 10 Percent Reductions in Capacity at 40 High Traffic Airports Beginning Friday

November 5, 2025

At a press conference this afternoon, DOT Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced that effective Friday, the FAA in coordination with airlines will begin to reduce capacity by 10 percent at 40 “high traffic” airports unless a deal is reached to end the government shutdown. Neither DOT nor FAA have provided a list of the 40 airports/high traffic areas that will be impacted.

The pair emphasized that while the system remains safe, the ongoing federal shutdown has led to staffing challenges across the system and concerns about fatigue with the controller workforce. According to Secretary Duffy, the decision on affected airports was “data driven.”

Today’s press conference may be viewed here. It is our understanding that conversations are occurring between FAA and the carriers on implementation of the reductions, and we could see a list of affected airports sometime tomorrow. We will share more information as soon as we have it.

As you are painfully aware, the shutdown is currently in its 36th day, the longest in U.S. history. Unfortunately, some 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay.