More than 3,500 flights were canceled nationwide on Friday, including over 100 in Chicago, under the Federal Aviation Administration’s directive to cut back flights as the result of the government shutdown.
Mandated flight reductions took effect at dozens of airports nationwide, including Midway and O’Hare, two days after the FAA announced an emergency order to reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” airports. Federal officials maintained the move was necessary to provide relief to air traffic controllers, who have been working for more than a month without getting paid.
As of Friday afternoon, 90 flights had been cancelled at O’Hare, according to FlightAware.com, the flight-tracking website. Midway reported an additional 18 cancellations.
Flight delay and cancellation data from both airports can be found below.
Note: The delay and cancellation data, which is obtained from FlightAware, is updated hourly.
US airports facing flight reductions
- Anchorage International (ANC)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Boston Logan International (BOS)
- Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- Denver International (DEN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
- Newark Liberty International (EWR)
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
- Honolulu International (HNL)
- Houston Hobby (HOU)
- Washington Dulles International (IAD)
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
- Indianapolis International (IND)
- New York John F Kennedy International (JFK)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
- Los Angeles International (LAX)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- Orlando International (MCO)
- Chicago Midway International (MDW)
- Memphis International (MEM)
- Miami International (MIA)
- Minneapolis/St Paul International (MSP)
- Oakland International (OAK)
- Ontario International (ONT)
- Chicago O`Hare International (ORD)
- Portland International (PDX)
- Philadelphia International (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
- San Diego International (SAN)
- Louisville International (SDF)
- Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)
- San Francisco International (SFO)
- Salt Lake City International (SLC)
- Teterboro (TEB)
- Tampa International (TPA)
The flight reductions announced Wednesday by a Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford were characterized as a “proactive” effort to keep American airspace safe while addressing the “fatigue” impacting on controllers.
The FAA has ordered a 4% reduction in the operations at 40 major airports starting Friday, which will ramp up to 6% by Nov. 11, 8% by Nov. 13, and up to 10% by Nov. 14.
What if your flight is canceled?
If you’re planning to take to the skies in the next few weeks, you’ll want to check with your airline first.
According to the FAA, airlines will be required to issue full refunds but won’t be mandated to cover secondary costs.
To check the status of a flight arriving to or departing from O’Hare, you can click here. Those traveling in and out of Midway can find flight updates on the airport’s website.
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
