PHOENIX – The list of airports that will be required to reduce flights by 10% on Friday reportedly includes Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that air traffic in 40 “high-volume markets” will be cut due to staffing shortages caused by the government shutdown.
The FAA is releasing the official list on Thursday, and multiple media outlets, including CBS News and ABC News, are reporting that Phoenix is on it.
The list reportedly covers most of the nation’s busiest airports, including facilities in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York and Los Angeles.
Passengers whose flights are being canceled will start receiving notifications on Thursday.
Experts predict hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled. The cuts could represent as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, according to an estimate by aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Air traffic controllers working without pay during government shutdown
Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown began Oct. 1. Most work mandatory overtime six days a week, leaving little time for side jobs to help cover bills and other expenses unless they call out.
Mounting staffing pressures are forcing the agency to act, an FAA official said Wednesday at a news conference.
“We can’t ignore it,” he said, adding that even if the shutdown ends before Friday, the FAA wouldn’t automatically resume normal operations until staffing improves and stabilizes,” administrator Bryan Bedford said.
Sky Harbor already impacted by staffing shortages
Sky Harbor was the 15th busiest airport in the U.S. by passengers boarded in 2024, according to Bureau of Transportation statistics.
Staffing shortages led to ground delays in Phoenix on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Sky Harbor officials have been encouraging passengers to monitor their flight status before leaving for the airport and leave plenty of time to get through security.
The Phoenix airport website has pages that show delays/cancelations and updated security wait times.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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