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Aussies warned to expect flight chaos amid US airport shutdown: What you need to know White House cancels 10 per cent of flights This will impact Aussies travelling to the US By CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER Published: 22:18 GMT, 6 November 2025 | Updated: 22:23 GMT, 6 November 2025 Aussies travelling to the US have been warned to expect delays as the White House begins to cancel up to 10 percent of daily flights because of the longest government shutdown in history. The Federal Aviation Administration is reducing air traffic by 10 percent across 40 'high-volume' markets beginning Friday to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers exhibit signs of strain amid the ongoing government shutdown. Experts predict the cutback could represent as many as 1,800 flights a day and upwards of 268,000 seats combined. Some air carriers are even offering all travelers, including those with non-refundable tickets, the option to voluntarily cancel their trip and receive a refund. Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown began October 1, and most have been on duty six days a week while putting in mandatory overtime. If the shutdown continues until next Tuesday, they'll miss a second paycheck. With some calling out of work due to frustration, taking second jobs or not having money for child care or gas, staffing shortages during some shifts have led to flight delays at a number of US airports. The FAA cutback stands to impact thousands of flights nationwide because the FAA directs more than 44,000 flights daily. The flight shortages will affect the three major airports in the NYC area - JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty - as well as airports in Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Washington DC. Airports in the United States' six largest cities are among the 40 that will see thousands of flights canceled daily beginning Friday due to the government shutdown, including Denver International (pictured) Airport delays at Salt Lake City International, one of the many airports that face reductions Full list of airports that will see thousands of flights cancelled starting Friday Anchorage International Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Boston Logan International Baltimore/Washington International Charlotte Douglas International Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Dallas Love Ronald Reagan Washington National Denver International Dallas/Fort Worth International Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Newark Liberty International Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Honolulu International Houston Hobby Washington Dulles International George Bush Houston Intercontinental Indianapolis International New York John F Kennedy International Las Vegas McCarran International Los Angeles International New York LaGuardia Orlando International Chicago Midway Memphis International Miami International Minneapolis/St Paul International Oakland International Ontario International Chicago O'Hare International Portland International Philadelphia International Phoenix Sky Harbor International San Diego International Louisville International Seattle/Tacoma International San Francisco International Salt Lake City International Tampa International Share or comment on this article: Aussies warned to expect flight chaos amid US airport shutdown: What you need to know Add comment
