Flight cuts live updates. Latest on cancellations, how to request refunds

Editor's note: Read USA TODAY's live coverage of flight cancellations due to the ongoing government shutdown for Friday, Nov. 7.

Americans are bracing for flight cancellations at dozens of major airports across the country due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that there would be a 10% reduction in flights at 40 airports, and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford told CEOs of major airlines the cuts would start at 4% on Friday. They'll rise to 5% on Saturday and 6% on Sunday before hitting 10% late next week.

The announcement sent airlines scrambling to rework schedules and field a flood of questions from consumers as concern grows about how the move will affect travelers. The news comes just weeks ahead of a busy holiday travel season.

"I think it's going to lead to more cancellations, but we are going to work with the airlines to do this in a systematic way," Duffy said at a Wednesday news conference.

The cuts come days after Duffy warned air travel could be disrupted due to the mounting pressure on the country's air traffic controllers. The government shutdown, which has lasted 37 days, has forced about 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners to work without pay.

Thursday evening, Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration administrator Brian Bedford cited the 40 high-traffic airports affected by flight reductions as part of a statement outlining proactive steps they said they were taking to maintain safety standards.

"Since the beginning of the shutdown, controllers have been working without pay, and staffing triggers at air traffic facilities across the country have been increasing," the statement said. "This has resulted in increased reports of strain on the system from both pilots and air traffic controllers."

Last week, it said, more than 2,700 delays were reported at various airports.

"My department has many responsibilities, but our number one job is safety," Duffy said. "This isn't about politics. It's about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system.... It's safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking."

The statement said airlines would be required to issue full refunds and would not be required to cover secondary costs -- the standard procedure when flight cancellations or delays are not the carrier's fault.

The order does not affect international flights but airlines are free to cancel such flights at their own discretion, it said.

'I didn’t want to be stranded at the airport'

Chicago O’Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country, serving as a popular hub and a destination. On Thursday, the eve of the FAA flight cuts, people were still arriving as usual.

Members of a boys hockey team from Florida collected their hockey sticks from the oversized baggage area. Some teenage girls in matching hoodies chatted near the baggage claim carousel, and a group in traditional Orthodox Jewish garb congregated on the curb outside terminal 3.

Travelers told USA TODAY they were anxious but hopeful they would get home without issue. Three women waiting by the door in arrivals said they all traveled from different places for a religious gathering.

“I’m concerned about Monday,” Sister Carol Weaver from Connecticut said of her return flight. “I thought about canceling two nights ago. I didn’t want to be stranded at the airport with my medical issues. I do hope there’s some progress between now and Monday.”

O’Hare is expected to be one of the 40 airports to have flights reduced due to the air traffic controller shortage, made worse by the government shutdown.

What should you do if your flight is delayed or canceled? Latest on rebooking, refunds

If your flight is canceled, Scott Keyes, founder of Going, recommended using the airlines' mobile app to rebook as soon as possible. If passengers need to speak with someone by phone, Keyes suggested calling one of the carrier’s international lines.

"The best thing travelers can do is to be as proactive as possible switching to a new flight,” Keyes told USA TODAY. “When a flight gets canceled, all of a sudden hundreds of passengers need new itineraries. There may only be a handful of seats left on the best flights, and it's a first-come, first-(served) endeavor.”

If your flight is affected by shutdown-related staffing issues, you may not be entitled to much. FAA staffing is considered outside of an airline’s control, so carriers aren’t on the hook in the same way they would be for delays caused by mechanical issues or other problems on their end.

Still, if your flight is canceled for any reason, including a shortage of air traffic controllers, you’re entitled to a full refund if you choose not to fly on alternative itineraries offered by your airline. The same goes for “significant” delays or changes.

FAA sets sights on flight cuts

The FAA plans to direct airlines to begin cutting flights beginning at 6 a.m. ET on Friday, Reuters reported. The outlet cited a draft order.

The FAA did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment. The Department of Transportation previously said the cuts would impact 40 high-traffic airports around the U.S.

– Nathan Diller

Delta Air Lines cancels 170 flights ahead of Friday

Delta Air Lines said Thursday that it will begin reducing some flights on Friday while maintaining access to all the cities it currently serves.

“We’re operating the vast majority of our schedule and intend to keep access to all of the markets we serve, though frequency may be affected,” the airline said in a statement.

To minimize last-minute disruptions, Delta said it is treating these reductions similarly to how it would handle weather-related events. The carrier plans to cancel flights a day in advance so travelers have time to rebook before arriving at the airport. That approach is meant to reduce crowding and prevent day-of travel surprises.

Delta said it expects to cancel approximately 170 flights on Friday, across both Delta and Delta Connection services. Saturday should see fewer cancellations, the airline said, because demand and daily departures are typically lower on weekends. Delta operates about 5,000 flights a day system-wide.

A travel waiver is now in place to offer customers additional flexibility to rebook without change fees.

United plans to cut hundreds of flights

United Airlines started canceling flights scheduled for the weekend in light of the FAA directive, the carrier said.

United said on Thursday it plans to cut 4% of its flights over the weekend. United operates around 4,500 flights a day, and the cuts will result in less than 200 daily cancellations, the carrier confirmed.

Denver seeks to supports air traffic controllers amid shutdown

In Denver, city officials are seeking permission to pay the airport’s air traffic controllers during the shutdown. Area leaders are also running a special food bank at the airport for federal workers impacted by the shutdown.

“As the shutdown drags on, air traffic controllers, in particular, are being stressed unnecessarily,” said DEN CEO Phil Washington in a statement. “As part of our airport family, it’s our hope that we can reduce the hardship on them by covering their wages during the shutdown, with reimbursement by the FAA later."

"We would love to be able to do more and provide wage support for all the federal workers at DEN, as they are all critical to our operation, but given the number of federal employees, we are only able to support controllers at this time,” he added.

While airport officials had not yet heard back on the pay issue, donations were piling up at the airport inside black plastic totes: diapers and canned goods, stuffing and ramen noodles.

How do I check if my flight is canceled?

With airlines reducing flights due to air traffic control staffing shortages, travelers shouldn’t wait until they’re already at the airport to learn whether they’re affected. The most important step, experts say, is to monitor your flight early and often.

Start by downloading your airline’s mobile app and turning on push and text notifications. Hopper economist Hayley Berg says travelers should be checking days in advance — not just the night before.

“If you have a flight scheduled or you’re scheduling one, sign up for text message notifications or sign up for alerts from the airline on the app on your phone,” Berg said. “A couple of days before your flight, just check in. Make sure that there haven’t been any changes that haven’t been communicated to you yet.”

Many airlines also offer a “Where’s My Plane?” feature in their apps. This lets you see whether the aircraft scheduled to operate your flight has arrived, is delayed en route, or hasn’t departed yet from its previous airport — an early signal of trouble.

−Josh Rivera

Flyers fret about flight cuts at Denver airport

At Denver International Airport, no flights appeared to have been canceled as of noon on Thursday, but flyers were concerned about the potential impacts.

“I’d say wary,” said Anna Gionfriddo, 26, an environmental engineer who flew in from Charlotte earlier in the day.

The Denver airport is one of United Airlines’ busiest hubs. It served more than 82 million passengers last year.

Sitting near a Southwest baggage claim, Gionfriddo and Margot Childs, 27, chatted as they waited for the remaining members of their bachelorette party to arrive from Texas.

Childs, who flew in from Atlanta, said her flight was delayed due to aircraft issues. But she wasn’t sure it was related to ongoing air traffic delays.

The “mountains and martinis” themed party weekend in the mountain town of Breckenridge is set to end on Sunday, and both women said there would be worse things than staying a few extra days.

“It’s definitely a concern flying back but we’re already here, and I’ll guess we’ll hope for the best,” Childs said.

Is it safe to fly during the shutdown?  

Yes. Despite concerns about staffing issues at airports during the government shutdown, experts have stressed that airline travel remains safe.  

Bedford said during a Wednesday news conference that the agency has seen "some evidence that fatigue is building in the system" as the shutdown drags on. The cuts, he said, are designed to relieve pressure for air traffic controllers who are covering longer hours and working more days. 

Some airline CEOs have pressed Bedford for more details on the undisclosed safety data that led the FAA to take such drastic action. U.S. Representative Rick Larsen, the top Democrat on the committee that oversees the FAA, also called on the agency to explain its "dramatic and unprecedented step."

Atlanta, Boston brace for flight cuts

A spokesperson for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport − the nation's busiest by passenger volume − said in a statement to USA TODAY the airport is currently operating without disruption. But officials are aware it has been identified as one of those that will be affected by the shutdown-related flight cuts.

"Therefore, we are preparing to activate measures to ensure that passengers who may be affected by the FAA flight reductions continue to have an optimal experience," the statement said.

Boston's Logan International Airport confirmed it is among those the FAA says will see flight reductions "to maintain the operational safety of the nation’s airspace," Samantha Decker, a spokesperson for Massport, said in a statement.

"For those traveling over the next few days, we do anticipate delays and cancellations and strongly urge passengers to check with their airline before coming to the airport," Decker said.

One-way car rentals surging, Hertz says

As travelers face potential disruptions to flight schedules, some appear to be opting to drive to their destination instead. Car rental company Hertz reported seeing an increase in one-way bookings for Saturday, when air traffic is set to be cut by 5%.

Reservations for one-way rentals for through Sunday have spiked over 20% year-over-year since the announcement, according to the company. Hertz CEO Gil West joined airlines in calling for an end to the government shutdown in a statement.

"We join the airlines in urging Congress to swiftly pass a clean continuing resolution and restore certainty for travelers," West said. "Every day of delay creates unnecessary disruption."

Which 40 airports are facing flight reductions?

Major airports in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and more are included in the list of 40 sites facing flight reductions, according to reports from ABC News and CBS News, which cited anonymous sources. USA TODAY has reached out to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The other airports named to face flight cuts are listed here, but could change when an official list is released by the FAA, according to reports from ABC News and CBS News.

‒ James Powel and Jay Cannon

What are the airlines saying?

▶ Delta Air Lines in a statement shared with USA TODAY said it expects to operate the vast majority of its flights as scheduled, including all long-haul international flights.

▶ United Airlines said that the airline will make rolling updates to its schedule as the record-breaking government shutdown continues and will provide travelers "several days' advance notice" of changes to minimize disruption.

▶ Southwest Airlines said it is evaluating how the flight restrictions will "affect our schedule and will communicate directly with customers as soon as possible," the company told USA TODAY in an emailed statement.

▶ American Airlines told USA TODAY that flights on Thursday will operate as planned and they are waiting for the FAA to provide additional information to "determine which flights will be impacted."

"We expect the vast majority of our customers’ travel will be unaffected," American Airlines said. "We will proactively reach out to customers who are impacted."

▶ Alaska Airlines said it and Hawaiian Airlines, which it acquired last year, had begun canceling a limited number of flights beginning Friday. The airline said it was working to ensure "smaller and remote communities... reliant on air travel" would be protected. In a statement posted on X, the airline said most cancellations would be on routes with a higher frequency of flights, "allowing most guests to be reaccommodated with as little disruption as possible."

'Disruption Assistance' sales soar

Following the announcement of impending flight reductions, travel platform Hopper said it saw a 40% surge overnight in flyers adding Disruption Assistance, which allows travelers to re-book their flight on any airline if their flight is canceled or delayed for at least 2 hours by the airline, according to the company's website. Passengers can also opt for a 100% refund for their ticket and keep their original reservation. 

Since the start of the shutdown, Hopper said sales of Disruption Assistance have skyrocketed over 60%.

Will cuts affect FedEx's shipping operations?

Among the 40 affected high-impact airports is Memphis International Airport, a critical hub for Memphis-based FedEx's global shipping operations. The airport is North America's busiest cargo airport and the world's second-busiest behind Hong Kong International Airport.

The logistics behemoth leases more than 34 million square feet of space from the airport and operates nearly 400 flights daily from Memphis — most of them overnight,outside the FAA-restricted time frame.

"We are monitoring the FAA’s plans to adjust flight capacity across the U.S. and are developing the necessary operational modifications to ensure our shipments continue to move safely and swiftly through our network," FedEx said in a statement issued Thursday. "Our contingency plans will flex our integrated air and ground network to help protect time-sensitive, critical shipments such as lifesaving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other products moving through our network.”

Contributing: Eve Chen, Karissa Waddick and Nathan Diller, USA TODAY; Bailey Allen, USA TODAY Network - New England; Corey Davis, USA TODAY Network - Memphis; Reuters