The United States will reduce flight capacity by ten percent at forty of its busiest airports, a temporary measure aimed at easing pressure on the air traffic control system as the federal shutdown continues. The Department of Transportation has clarified that international routes and cargo services will not be affected by the measure, in order to safeguard the continuity of trade flows and global supply chains.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy explained that the reductions, effective from Friday 7 November 2025, will be implemented gradually: US carriers will initially cut flights by four percent, rising to five percent the following day and up to ten percent within the following week. Duffy added that restrictions could be extended if traffic and safety data make it necessary.
According to estimates by analytics firm Cirium, the measure could lead to the cancellation of around 1,800 flights across the country’s major metropolitan areas. However, intercontinental routes and cargo operations will continue, to prevent disruptions in the movement of strategic goods. The cargo sector, which in the United States is a key element of long-haul logistics and e-commerce, therefore remains exempt from the restrictions.
Federal Aviation Administration director Bryan Bedford confirmed that the agency also plans to temporarily limit space launches to ease the workload on controllers. Bedford also noted a rise in delays caused by staff shortages, worsened by the fact that controllers have been working without pay since 1 October, when the shutdown began.
Difficulties in managing domestic air traffic have already affected the performance of leading airlines, with United Airlines announcing targeted reductions in regional and secondary domestic routes. The impact on freight operations, however, remains limited for now: international transport operators and cargo airlines are maintaining their scheduled flights, taking advantage of air corridors not subject to restrictions.
