SFO, Oakland Among 40 Airports Facing FAA-Ordered Flight Reductions

The Federal Aviation Administration plans to reduce flights by up to 10 percent at San Francisco International and Oakland International airports, as part of a national response to staffing shortages caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Starting Friday, airlines will begin cutting flights at 40 high-traffic airports, including both Bay Area hubs, according to internal guidance shared with carriers. The FAA has not issued a formal order but has told airlines to prepare for phased reductions, beginning with four percent of scheduled flights this weekend.

San Francisco and Oakland airport officials said Wednesday they were aware of the FAA’s intention to limit flights but had not received official communication from the agency. Doug Yakel, spokesperson for SFO, said individual airlines would determine how to implement the cuts. Kaley Skantz, spokeswoman for Oakland airport, said the facility remains fully staffed and is preparing for changes.

San Jose Mineta International is not on the FAA’s list. Officials there said operations remain unchanged but warned that connecting flights and ripple effects could still impact travelers.

Passengers at SFO expressed frustration and concern. Cassie Scroggins, flying to Las Vegas, called the cuts “crazy.” Jim Dietz, heading to San Diego, said he worried about increased chaos unless the government reopens.

The air traffic reductions come amid a record-long federal shutdown, now in its 36th day. Air traffic controllers, working without pay since October 1, are missing paychecks and logging mandatory overtime. The FAA said the reductions are necessary to ease the workload on employees and to maintain safety in the skies.

United Airlines, based in Chicago with major operations in San Francisco, confirmed it will cut 4 percent of its flights starting Friday. Other major carriers are expected to follow FAA guidance. While weather commonly causes widespread cancellations, industry analysts say this type of planned reduction due to federal disruption is highly unusual.

“This is going to have a noticeable impact across the U.S. air transportation system,” said aviation analyst Henry Harteveldt. The cuts are expected to hit smaller and mid-sized cities particularly hard, as airlines consolidate resources around larger hubs.

Passengers affected by cancellations may be offered refunds, even for non-refundable fares. United, Delta, and American Airlines all confirmed they would provide flexibility for affected travelers. Frontier suggested customers book backup itineraries to avoid being stranded.

The estimated impact is significant. Aviation data firm Cirium projects up to 1,800 daily flights could be affected, potentially stranding more than 250,000 passengers.

In addition to passenger disruptions, cargo operations could be hit. Memphis and Louisville, homes to major FedEx and UPS distribution centers respectively, are also on the FAA’s reduction list. Louisville was the site of a fatal cargo plane crash earlier this week.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a briefing Wednesday that the action is unprecedented. “We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns,” he said. “I’m not aware in my 35 years in aviation of any move like this.”

Over the weekend, 39 air traffic control facilities reported staffing issues, up sharply from normal operations. The agency said it couldn’t ignore mounting stress on the workforce.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the cuts were coordinated with airline executives to minimize hazard. Aviation unions and trade groups have urged lawmakers to end the shutdown, warning it is eroding consumer trust in U.S. air travel.

The reductions will last until staffing conditions improve and the FAA deems the system stable. The agency has not set a timeline for when normal scheduling might resume.