What FAA flight cuts mean for Canadian travellers

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says it will temporarily scale back air traffic at 40 major U.S. airports as the ongoing government shutdown stretches on. 

The move begins today and ramps up to a 10% cut by Nov. 14, with the reductions applied between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time.

International flights are exempt, but knock-on effects are expected across the system — meaning Canadians heading to the U.S. could still see delays or cancellations tied to reduced capacity at key hubs.

According to the FAA, the measure is intended to preserve safety during the shutdown, as unpaid air traffic controllers show signs of fatigue. 

Airports in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles are among those affected, along with other high-volume U.S. gateways such as Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Orlando, Miami and San Francisco. 

Some metro regions, including New York, Houston and Chicago, will see multiple airports impacted.

U.S. carriers are still working through the operational impact. 

One estimate cited by The Associated Press says the cut could represent up to roughly 1,800 flights — about 268,000 seats — combined. 

United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have said they will offer refunds to travellers who choose not to fly, even on fares that are typically non-refundable. 

The FAA has also restricted certain space launches and general aviation activity.

What does this mean for Canadians?

As reported by CBC, Air Canada says it is operating a normal schedule, but customers connecting to U.S. domestic flights on United Airlines could be affected. 

The airline says it is already seeing some delays. 

Air Canada is allowing those connecting on United to change or postpone travel with no change fee.

Porter Airlines says staffing challenges on the FAA side have already caused delays for some U.S. flights. 

WestJet says it is monitoring the situation, but so far its operations remain unaffected.

Transport Canada says it is also watching the situation, and is reminding travellers departing Canadian airports to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

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