The FAA is slashing flights because of the shutdown. Here’s what travelers can expect

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Travelers can expect to see fewer flights to many major U.S. cities starting Friday morning, when the Federal Aviation Administration said it would reduce traffic across 40 airports to ease the load on the nation’s air traffic controllers.

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The head of the FAA said the move was unprecedented but necessary to keep air travel safe as traffic controllers, who are federal employees, show increasing signs of stress and fatigue while working unpaid during the longest government shutdown on record.

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Most of them worked six days a week and put in mandatory overtime even before the shutdown, but they have been doing so without paychecks as lawmakers fail to agree on a way to reopen the government.

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Airports in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, along with hubs across the U.S., are among the 40 that will see flights cut, according to a list distributed to the airlines and obtained by The Associated Press.

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Here is what to know about the cutbacks and what to do if your trip is delayed or canceled:

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Will I hear from my airline?

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Passengers should start to get notified about cancellations on Thursday. Airlines say they will try to minimize the impact on their customers, some of whom will see weekend travel plans disrupted with little notice.

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United Airlines said it would focus the cuts on smaller regional routes that use smaller planes.

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United, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines said they would offer refunds to passengers who opt not to fly, even if they purchased tickets that aren’t normally refundable.

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Is my airport on the list?

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The affected airports cover more than two dozen states across the country. The include the nation’s busiest airport, Hartsfield_Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia, as well as the main airports in Anchorage, Boston, Denver, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Boston, and Anchorage.

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In some metropolitan areas, including New York, Houston, Chicago and Washington, multiple airports will be impacted.

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Check before going to the airport

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It is better to be stuck at home or in a hotel than to be stranded in an airport terminal, so use the airline’s app or flight websites to make sure that your flight is still on before heading to the airport. This FAA site can be checked to see if there are widespread delays at your airport.

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My flight was canceled. Now what?

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If you are already at the airport, it is time to find another flight. Get in line to speak to a customer service representative, and call or go online to connect to the airline’s reservations staff. It can also help to reach out on X because airlines might respond quickly there.

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The good news is that early November is not a peak travel time, so travelers stand a better chance of getting seats on other planes. But the busy holiday season is just weeks away, and passengers might have to wait days for a seat on a new flight.

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Consider other travel options

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Now might be the time to consider if it makes sense to travel by train, car or bus instead.