UNDATED-AP/DRG MEDIA GROUP, PIERRE– The Federal Aviation Administration is reducing airplane traffic by 10% in 40 “high-volume” markets in an effort to maintain safety as air traffic controllers go unpaid and have been increasingly calling in not able to work. Controllers have missed one full paycheck and could miss another one next week if the government shutdown drags on.
According to a list distributed to the airlines and obtained by The Associated Press, airports in Denver, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Orlando, Miami, San Francisco and Chicago are among the locations where flights will be cut starting Friday (Nov. 7, 2025).
United Airlines says it will focus the cuts on regional routes that use smaller planes. SkyWest, flying as United Express, is the commercial air carrier for the Pierre Regional Airport. All year long, they provide a dozen round-trip flights each week between Pierre and the Denver International Airport using small, regional jets. During October, SkyWest provided eight additional round-trip flights each week and in November, 10 additional weekly flights to accommodate extra demand for South Dakota’s pheasant hunting season.
United, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines said they would offer refunds to passengers who opt not to fly, even if they purchased tickets that aren’t normally refundable. The head of Frontier Airlines recommended that travelers buy backup tickets with another airline to avoid being stranded. Passengers should start to be notified about cancellations Thursday.
The cuts also could disrupt package deliveries because two airports with major distribution centers are on the list — FedEx operates at the airport in Memphis, Tennessee, and UPS in Louisville, Kentucky, the site of this week’s deadly cargo plane crash.
The FAA is making 10% airplane traffic cuts at the following airports:
1. Anchorage International in Alaska
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International in Georgia
3. Boston Logan International in Massachusetts
4. Baltimore/Washington International in Maryland
5. Charlotte Douglas International in North Carolina
6. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International in Ohio
7. Dallas Love Field in Texas
8. Ronald Reagan Washington National in Virginia
9. Denver International in Colorado
10. Dallas/Fort Worth International in Texas
11. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County in Michigan
12. Newark Liberty International in New Jersey
13. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International in Florida
14. Honolulu International in Hawaii
15. Houston Hobby in Texas
16. Washington Dulles International in Virginia
17. George Bush Houston Intercontinental in Texas
18. Indianapolis International in Indiana
19. John F. Kennedy International in New York
20. Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas
21. Los Angeles International in California
22. LaGuardia Airport in New York
23. Orlando International in Florida
24. Chicago Midway International in Illinois
25. Memphis International in Tennessee
26. Miami International in Florida
27. Minneapolis/St Paul International in Minnesota
28. Oakland International in California
29. Ontario International in California
30. Chicago O`Hare International in Illinois
31. Portland International in Oregon
32. Philadelphia International in Pennsylvania
33. Phoenix Sky Harbor International in Arizona
34. San Diego International in California
35. Louisville International in Kentucky
36. Seattle/Tacoma International in Washington
37. San Francisco International in California
38. Salt Lake City International in Utah
39. Teterboro in New Jersey
40. Tampa International in Florida
Comments