Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » O’Hare, Midway among 40 airports that could be impacted by FAA flight cuts
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
O’Hare, Midway among 40 airports that could be impacted by FAA flight cuts

Thursday, Nov 6, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Hill

Many of the largest airports across the country will see a noticeable reduction in flight offerings starting Friday, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implements new steps to maintain air safety amid the ongoing government shutdown.

The preliminary list of 40 airports operating at reduced capacity, obtained by The Hill’s sister network NewsNation, is subject to change. The FAA is expected to announce the full list sometime later on Thursday.

The list, also obtained by The Washington Post, CBS News and ABC News, includes virtually all the major air travel hubs — from New York, to Los Angeles, to Washington, D.C., to Miami, to Chicago, to Dallas and many airports in between. […]

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced Wednesday that the agency was taking the extraordinary step of reducing flight capacity by 10 percent across 40 “high-traffic” areas in the country.

Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway are on the list of affected airports.

* NBC Chicago

In a statement sent to NBC Chicago, the Chicago Department of Aviation said it is “monitoring the situation closely” as it awaits further details on potential impacts at Midway and O’Hare.

“Our team will continue coordinating with airline and federal partners to help minimize any disruptions,” the statement said.

O’Hare in particular has seen dozens of flights a day delayed due to staff shortages. As of 5:30 a.m. Thursday, the number of flights delayed at O’Hare was 22, with six cancelations.

* AP

Passengers should start to be notified about cancellations Thursday. Airlines said they would try to minimize the impact on customers, some of whom will see weekend travel plans disrupted with little notice. […]

The cuts could affect as many as 1,800 flights, or upwards of 268,000 passengers, per day, according to an estimate by aviation analytics firm Cirium.

“I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said Wednesday. “We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns.”

Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown began Oct. 1. Most work mandatory overtime six days a week, leaving little time for side jobs to help cover bills and other expenses unless they call out.

       

25 Comments
  1. - New Day - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 11:20 am:

    This will amp up the anger to 11 and should help force an end to this idiotic shutdown. I predict next week but in the meantime there will be a LOT of disruption and a ton of bad PR on this.


  2. - Garfield Ridge Guy - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 11:21 am:

    The GOP legislative majority is in the same position as the Democratic legislative majority during the Rauner years. Their hope is to stall and twist the knife, while making noises about how the minority needs to compromise. Hopefully the Dems learn the lesson from the ILGOP minority, and realizes that there is no advantage to coming to the table.


  3. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 11:38 am:

    ===Hopefully the Dems learn the lesson===

    Yes, because they wouldn’t want to horrifically underperform in 2026 like they did on Tuesday.

    /s


  4. - Amalia - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 11:48 am:

    Thanksgiving approaching a few weeks away. dialogue will heat up with concern about holidays


  5. - I-55 Fanatic - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 11:53 am:

    It seems to me that Ds and Rs on the hill have been engaged in mutually assured destruction for a couple weeks now. Something has got to give. The messaging on this is so muddy and partisan at this point, I think our last hope is bipartisan incentive to just make a deal and claim victory regardless of the details.


  6. - Remember the Alamo II - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 12:28 pm:

    === The messaging on this is so muddy and partisan at this point, I think our last hope is bipartisan incentive to just make a deal and claim victory regardless of the details. ===

    To be clear, all the Republicans need to do is include the previously implemented Obamacare subsidies. Even Republican legislators acknowledge that jacking up insurance premiums will get them destroyed at the ballot box. Instead they continue to spout misinformation and lies, but the public is catching on. Its a real head scratcher.


  7. - Socially DIstant Watcher - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 12:33 pm:

    Now I’m wishing we still had Miegs Field.

    /s


  8. - Siualum - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 12:40 pm:

    Probably oversimplification, but maybe agree to continue the Affordable Care Act subsidies and end the shutdown?


  9. - Harrison - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 12:42 pm:

    Republicans lost both New Jersey and Virginia by 5 points in the last Presidential election.

    I wouldn’t assume the government shut down is helping Democrats win next year


  10. - Grandson of Man - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 1:04 pm:

    The “great negotiator” is not so great. Someone once said that presidents have to lead and unite. This person now has the most shutdown days of any president. Instead of leading and uniting, there’s blaming, attacking and threatening.


  11. - TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 1:13 pm:


    This person now has the most shutdown days of any president.

    He had that honor before now too. From the longest shutdown ever which took place in his last term.

    The only new thing now is that he’s in first *and* second place, for longest shutdown.


  12. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 1:41 pm:

    === Yes, because they wouldn’t want to horrifically underperform in 2026 ===

    One of the things I said during the Rauner Budget Impasse was that I was pretty sure how it would end, but I could not tell you when.

    Much like the tv show House, the “patient”, in that case “illinois government,” had to get sick enough and present enough symptoms after enough other treatments had been tried, that the last remaining diagnosis and treatment would present itself.

    The House star Hugh Laurie emulated the great detective Sherlock Holmes’s maxim “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the answer.”

    Dr. House also was an addict, and he emulated another important maxim that applies to this situation. “You cannot help someone who does not want your help, and for addicts that does not happen until they hit rock bottom.”

    I don’t know what rock bottom is for Trump and his enablers. Trump says he watches the Bond market, but the 50% increase in gold in 2025 ought to be a flashing warning sign to everyone that capital is not flowing into production.

    Again, IDK how much more of this the GOP will tolerate before they decide they have hit rock bottom. I only know that the sooner they act the better for them, and the longer they wait the worse for them.

    Right now I think they hole the courts will do their job for them, I do think that will slow Trump but not stop him. He believes any judge who disagrees with him is crooked, and that includes his own appointments, from whom he demands 100% loyalty.

    If tariffs are shot down, I will not be surprised if Trump demands that justices he appointed be impeached, removed and replaced.


  13. - Pundent - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 1:44 pm:

    =Probably oversimplification, but maybe agree to continue the Affordable Care Act subsidies and end the shutdown?=

    Because the benefits of the big beautiful bill are acheived by reducing the cost of programs such as the ACA. Of course that wasn’t conveyed at the time the bill was passed but it’s becoming clearer in the shutdown. And if you haven’t noticed, the GOP isn’t exactly a fan of the ACA and raising those premiums provides fodder for those that want to abolish it.


  14. - JSI - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 1:45 pm:

    My mother in law is set to fly in next week; a cancellation wouldn’t be the end of the world. Surely this will be solved before Thanksgiving travel though.


  15. - H-W - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 1:46 pm:

    This will largely affect the middle and upper middle classes who fly regularly. Will it pit the middle class against the working class, from whom healthcare is being taken, or the middle class against the poor, from whom food, Head Start and Child Care is being taken?

    Or will it turn out that the American public writ-large remains committed to feeding the poor, healing the sick, and caring for the children?

    My guess is the Republican Congress will continue digging a deeper hole, and in the long run, pay the piper in 2026.


  16. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 1:49 pm:

    ===Republicans lost both ===

    Keep whistling.


  17. - It's Just a Pill - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 1:53 pm:

    –Republicans lost both New Jersey and Virginia by 5 points in the last Presidential election.–

    …And by 15 on Tuesday. They are known as trends


  18. - Harrison - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 2:10 pm:

    The whistles are all sold out these days

    Let’s wait to see how the poor governance in Chicago and NYC helps the national Democratic Party next year


  19. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 2:13 pm:

    ===Let’s wait to see how the poor governance in Chicago and NYC===

    Most people don’t live in those cities. We all live in the USA, however.


  20. - End the filibuster - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 2:27 pm:

    If the DC GOP is so sure they are on the right path, repeal the filibuster and re-open the federal government without any Dem votes.


  21. - Retired School Board Member - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 2:31 pm:

    ===Republicans Lost in Virginia & NJ…===
    And the two Georgia Statewide races that went blue or the PA Supreme Court Justice retention wins (blue)?


  22. - don the legend - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 3:00 pm:

    ===Let’s wait to see how the poor governance in Chicago and NYC===

    Harrison, do you get your mail delivered to your seat at the end of the bar?


  23. - Demoralized - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 3:03 pm:

    ==Let’s wait==

    You Republicans will do whatever it takes to twist yourself into a knot to make it seem as if Tuesday was no big deal. Maybe I’ll make a visit to the fantasyland you live in someday.


  24. - Johnny O - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 4:16 pm:

    @don the legend +1

    ==poor governance in Chicago and NYC==

    The jury is out still on Mamdani, but Trump is failing in Chicago, read the news…


  25. - low level - Thursday, Nov 6, 25 @ 5:36 pm:

    == Let’s wait to see how the poor governance in Chicago and NYC helps the national Democratic Party next year==

    Nah, lets see how the shutdown and starvation helps the RNC next year. As for New York and Chicago, they are doing quite nicely but you wouldnt know that watching Fox and “News”max


TrackBack URI

Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Reader comments closed for Thanksgiving week
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* CTA board chair inadvertently makes strong case for busting up the transit fiefdoms
* Pritzker says graduated tax not his priority for spring session
* Campaign updates (Updated)
* Independent poll shows Biss, Abughazaleh tied; Pritzker hugely popular in the district
* RETAIL: The Largest Employer In Illinois
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* Good morning!
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today's edition
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Live coverage
* Evening reading: 'Difficult, if not impossible, to believe almost anything that Defendants represent'
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
November 2025
October 2025
September 2025
August 2025
July 2025
June 2025
May 2025
April 2025
March 2025
February 2025
January 2025
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller