FAA orders Charlotte airport to reduce flights by up to 10% in midst of shutdown
Charlotte’s airport is one of 40 that the FAA has ordered to reduce flights by up to 10% in the middle of the federal shutdown, the airport said in a statement Thursday morning. The order starts Friday, with reductions at 4% before increasing over the next few days.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport already has faced over 6,100 delayed flights since the shutdown began Oct. 1.
But Charlotte airport officials said, “We have not been notified of any reductions at CLT at this time. Our airline partners, including American, will determine and communicate any schedule changes directly to customers.
“CLT remains in close communication with our federal and airline partners to stay informed and responsive as needed. There are currently no significant impacts to airport operations.”
The airport has approximately 1,800 daily arrivals and departures, according to its website. Under the FAA orders, that would mean a reduction of approximately 180 flights.
American Airlines accounts for about 90% of the flights out of CLT, one of its main hubs. CLT is the only airport in the Carolinas that is on the list of 40 airports.
American Airlines responds to FAA order
Per the FAA order, American Airlines is reducing flight schedules by 4% at 40 airports Friday through Monday, amounting to about 220 flights canceled each day. Even with the cancellations, the airline is making plans to operate around 6,000 daily flights.
In a call with major airlines, the FAA said capacity reductions at the airports would start at 4%, rising to 5% Saturday and 6% Sunday, before hitting 10% next week, according to a report from Reuters and other outlets. International flights will be exempt from the cuts.
“We are continuing to communicate with impacted customers,” the airline said in a Thursday statement.
As schedule changes are made, the airline will reach out to customers who are impacted by them. American Airlines is encouraging people to check their flight status on aa.com or the mobile app, which will provide real-time updates.
“Disrupting customers’ plans is the last thing we want to do,” American Airlines said in a public message.
To provide additional flexibility during this travel period, customers whose flights are canceled for any reason or who choose not to travel will be able to change their flight or request a refund without penalty, according to the airline.
“We’re deeply grateful to federal aviation workers who continue working without pay to keep our skies safe,” the company said. “This is unacceptable. We, once again, urge leaders in Washington to reach an immediate resolution to end the shutdown.”
Predicting ‘mass chaos’ from flight delays
Under orders from the Trump administration Thursday, 10% of flights at 40 airports across the U.S. will be reduced to help ease the pressure faced by air traffic controllers. Republicans and Democrats continue to blame each other for the shutdown that has limped into a second month. Air travel is a key pressure point.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week there would be “mass chaos” due to flight delays and cancellations, citing a shortage of air traffic controllers working without pay.
The shutdown began on Oct. 1 after Congress couldn’t agree on a plan to fund government agencies.
About CLT airport
CLT is the sixth-busiest airport in the world for takeoffs and landings. Last year, the Charlotte airport saw 596,583 planes come and go from its terminals, according to Airports Council International rankings.
During the shutdown, Charlotte airport officials said that their operations remain unaffected — something they’ve emphasized consistently since the shutdown began.
American Airlines has also reported no significant disruptions to its operations, according to a company spokesperson.
Since Nov. 1, CLT has seen 1,142 delays, according to a Charlotte Observer review of data from FlightAware, a website providing real-time flight information. On Friday as of 9 a.m., there were 16 delays and 41 cancellations, according to FlightAware.
In October, CLT had more than 5,000 delays.
The delays continue to increase as air traffic controllers are still mandated to work. Last Tuesday marked the first time they received a zero-dollar paycheck.
Roughly half of the nation’s major air traffic control centers are experiencing staff shortages, the Federal Aviation Administration told ABC News. Union members from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association handed out leaflets to passengers at CLT and about 20 other U.S. airports.
Dealing with flight delays?
Have you experienced flight delays at CLT due to the government shutdown? We want to hear from you. Please share your story and contact info by emailing cjordan@charlotteobserver.com
This story was originally published November 6, 2025 at 8:33 AM.
