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CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is not among the 40 U.S. airports directly affected by a federal order to reduce flight operations by 10%, a move designed to ease pressure on the nation’s overworked air traffic controllers. Still, Cleveland travelers are likely to feel the ripple effects of the cuts, which are scheduled to begin Friday. Airlines have already begun warning passengers about potential delays and cancellations. Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle even urged travelers to book backup tickets in case their flights are canceled. “If you are flying Friday or in the next 10 days and need to be there or don’t want to be stranded, I highly recommend booking a backup ticket on another carrier,” Biffle wrote on social media Wednesday. “If your flight is cancelled, your chances of being stranded are high so I would simply have a backup ticket on another airline. I’m sorry this is happening. Hopefully the shutdown is over soon.” Biffle’s comments came after the federal government announced plans to cut flight operations nationwide by 10%, citing concerns about air traffic controller fatigue during the ongoing government shutdown. Controllers are currently working without pay. The reductions will primarily affect the nation’s busiest hubs, including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, and all three New York City–area airports, along with the Washington, D.C., region. Smaller facilities such as Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Indianapolis and Louisville are also on the list. Cleveland Hopkins -- ranked the nation’s 47th largest airport by passenger volume in 2024 -- was not among those targeted for reductions. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford called the cuts “unprecedented” during a Wednesday news conference. “I’m not aware in my 35-year history in aviation of a time when we’ve had to take these kinds of measures,” Bedford said. “Then again, we’re in new territory when it comes to government shutdowns.” The shutdown, now at 35 days, became the longest in U.S. history this week. Bedford emphasized that the U.S. aviation system remains safe but noted signs of growing fatigue among controllers. “We’re starting to see evidence that fatigue is building in the system in ways that we feel we need to relieve some of that pressure,” he said. Airlines are now determining how to comply with the FAA’s directive. In a memo to employees, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said United’s reductions would mainly affect regional and short-haul domestic routes that do not connect major hubs. That could include some flights to and from Cleveland, a former United hub. However, as of Thursday morning, no cancellations or delays were reported at Hopkins. Kirby said United’s international and hub-to-hub flights would continue as scheduled. “That’s important to maintain the integrity of our network and give impacted customers as many options as possible to resume their trip and sustain our crew pairing systems,” he said. He also noted that passengers who prefer not to travel during the reduction period -- even if they aren’t booked on an affected flight -- can request a full refund, even for nonrefundable or basic economy tickets. List of 40 airports that must reduce flying by 10%, according to ABC News: ANC Anchorage International ATL Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International BOS Boston Logan International BWI Baltimore/Washington International CLT Charlotte Douglas International CVG Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International DAL Dallas Love DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National DEN Denver International DFW Dallas/Fort Worth International DTW Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County EWR Newark Liberty International FLL Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International HNL Honolulu International HOU Houston Hobby IAD Washington Dulles International IAH George Bush Houston Intercontinental IND Indianapolis International JFK New York John F Kennedy International LAS Las Vegas Harry Reid International LAX Los Angeles International LGA New York LaGuardia MCO Orlando International MDW Chicago Midway MEM Memphis International MIA Miami International MSP Minneapolis/St Paul International OAK Oakland International ONT Ontario International ORD Chicago OHare International PDX Portland International PHL Philadelphia International PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor International SAN San Diego International SDF Louisville International SEA Seattle/Tacoma International SFO San Francisco International SLC Salt Lake City International TEB Teterboro TPA Tampa International
