Travelers using Kennedy and LaGuardia airports Friday will likely feel the weight of fewer air traffic controllers willing to work without a paycheck as a Federal Aviation Administration order aimed at easing their workload by reducing air traffic begins in full.
Trimming air traffic by 10% at both New York City airports, Newark Liberty and 37 others considered among the busiest nationwide is the goal, according to the FAA.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has characterized the cuts as critical to reducing the strain on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay since the shutdown began Oct. 1
“Some of those who don’t show up continue to not show up,” Duffy said Wednesday at a news conference, “which means we have those who come to work, they’re working longer hours, working more days and that’s some of the pressure that we’re seeing on them and we want to alleviate that pressure before it becomes an issue.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said Thursday the FAA move will “create chaos at our airports” and “is just the latest example of the Trump Administration using this GOP shutdown to hurt Americans.”
Hochul spokesman Sean Butler said: “Grounding flights will hurt the economy in every corner of our state, especially communities served by smaller airports that are the first to experience cancellations.”
Airlines, meanwhile, advised passengers Thursday to check their flight’s status through their respective airlines websites and mobile apps, through which travelers can seek new flights, refunds, travel credits or waivers.
An United Airlines flight arrives at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. Credit: AP/Nam Y. Huh
The Department of Transportation said airlines will be required to issue full refunds for cancelled flights.
AAA Northeast spokesman Robert Sinclair Jr. recommended travelers using metropolitan airports need to prepare as they would amid “the holiday rush.”
“You need to get to the airport early and anticipate that there will be some problems,” Sinclair told Newsday on Thursday. “And if there aren’t, be thankful.”
The head of the FAA hasn’t ruled out additional cuts as the actual holiday season approaches.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks alongside Vice President JD Vance about the impact of the government shutdown on the aviation industry, outside of the West Wing of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in Washington. Credit: AP/Jacquelyn Martin
“The system is extremely safe today. It will be extremely safe tomorrow and if the pressures continue to build even after we take these measures we’ll come back and take additional measures,” FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said. “We’re trying to be prescriptive, surgical, and put the relief where the relief will do the most good. But again we are not going to do anything that will compromise the safety of air transport in the United States.”
FlighAware, a website that tracks flight disruptions, showed Thursday that airlines had so far cut close to 700 planned Friday flights.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in an emailed statement to Newsday, said the agency will “remain in close communication with our airline, federal, and airport community partners — including FAA, TSA, CBP, terminal operators, and concessions — to monitor the situation, support their operations as needed, and ensure our customers have the resources they need to navigate any potential delays or cancellations.”
A traveler from Norhtport said Thursday he got an early taste of potential delays to come.
Paul Wilson, 32, an environmental scientist, said his flight to LaGuardia from St. Louis was delayed for about an hour.
“The pilot said we’re stuck on the Tarmac because there’s a staffing shortage in New York,” Wilson said.
He said the delay was an “inconvenience” and hopes the situation will be resolved when he next travels by air in December.
Among the airlines building up to a 10% reduction over the next several days is American Airlines, which operates at Kennedy and LaGuardia airports.
“Per FAA requirement, we have reduced flight schedules by four percent at 40 airports Friday through Monday, amounting to about 220 flights canceled each day,” American Airlines said in a news release. “Even with these cancellations, we plan to operate around 6,000 daily flights.”
The airline’s release also thanked “federal aviation workers who continue working without pay to keep our skies safe. This is unacceptable. We, once again, urge leaders in Washington to reach an immediate resolution to end the shutdown.”
Delta and United customers can request full refunds who choose not to travel during the shutdown, according to statements on each airline’s website.
Customers flying JetBlue, which has its hub at Kennedy, and whose flights were canceled, can rebook through Nov. 19 or request refunds if they purchased tickets before Wednesday, according to the airline’s website.
Sinclair said it remained unclear Thursday whether cancellations at Kennedy or LaGuardia would lead air travelers to smaller commercial airports, such as Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip
“There aren’t a lot of flights that leave out of those airports,” he said. “And we haven’t seen or heard anything about people switching over to taking the train or a bus.”
With AP
This story was reported and written by Nicholas Grasso, Ted Phillips and Josefa Velásquez.
