Airlines face steep fines as FAA investigates missed flight reductions
Airlines face steep fines as FAA investigates missed flight reductions
Zach Wichter, USA TODAY
Thu, December 4, 2025 at 6:34 PM UTC
2 min read
Airlines face steep fines as FAA investigates missed flight reductions
The Federal Aviation Administration warned airlines this week that it is investigating their compliance with an emergency flight-reduction order issued during the government shutdown. It said the companies are at risk of steep financial penalties if they did not trim their schedules as requested.
"The FAA alerted certain airlines that it’s investigating whether they complied with an Emergency Order mandating flight reductions at 40 high-impact airports to maintain safety during the government shutdown," the agency said in a statement. "The airlines are scheduled carriers that have more than 10 daily operations at any of the high-impact airports. The Nov. 12 Order stated that airlines could face fines of up to $75,000 per flight that exceeded the limits."
Under the emergency order, airlines operating at 40 major U.S. airports were required to trim, first 4%, then 6% of their scheduled flights. The order created a framework for cuts up to 10%, but the government shutdown ended before the tighter thresholds were enforced.
According to the FAA, the reductions were necessary to keep travelers safe. During the shutdown, air traffic controllers were required to work without pay, and as their unpaid time accumulated, many needed to take time off to earn other income.
The FAA's letter to airlines said it is monitoring compliance and has given the companies 30 days to provide evidence that they adhered to the emergency order. The agency did not specify which airlines are under investigation.
Travelers wait in line at a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois on November 7 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.Travelers arrive at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on November 7, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.A TSA agent directs people as they wait in line at a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois on November 7 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.A screen shows United Airlines 2619 landing at Chicago International Airport O'Hare, a day after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that he would order 10% of flights at 40 major U.S. airports to be cut starting Friday unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., November 6, 2025.Air travelers face the morning commute at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a day after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that he would order 10% of flights at 40 major U.S. airports to be cut starting Friday unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. November 6, 2025.A crew member walks at the airport, as air travelers face the morning commute at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a day after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that he would order 10% of flights at 40 major U.S. airports to be cut starting Friday unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. November 6, 2025.A person walks at the airport, as air travelers face the morning commute at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a day after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that he would order 10% of flights at 40 major U.S. airports to be cut starting Friday unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. November 6, 2025.
A passenger stands by a screen showing delayed flights due to the government shutdown, at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 6, 2025.
Travelers arrive at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on November 7, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.Travelers wait in line at a security checkpoint at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas on November 7, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.
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Travelers wait in line at a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois on November 7 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.
The Trump Administration provided $10,000 bonuses to air traffic controllers who did not miss a single shift during the shutdown. According to Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., only 4% of controllers qualified.
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Duckworth sent a letter calling on the Department of Transportation to provide bonuses to all air traffic controllers who worked without pay during the shutdown, even if they missed a shift.
“Air Traffic Organization jobs are extremely stressful for good reason: one mistake may be deadly,” Duckworth's letter said. “These dedicated professionals must be at their best when on the job, but your policy encourages Air Traffic Controllers and Technicians to show up regardless of their health. That is incredibly dangerous. Sick leave exists for a reason. Claiming safety is a top priority is mere lip service if Air Traffic Controllers and Technicians fear using authorized leave, even when doing so best serves the safety of the (national airspace system) and health of their fellow FAA employees.”
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
