FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford warns that the widespread absence of air traffic controllers during the government shutdown is already causing major flight delays and could get worse as Thanksgiving approaches.
United Airlines customers with flights booked to travel during the government shutdown are eligible for a refund, CEO Scott Kirby told employees in a memo Wednesday.
The news came after the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation announced a reduction in schedules at 40 domestic airports, starting on Friday, as a result of the closure.
“[A]Any customer traveling during this period is eligible for a refund if they do not wish to fly, even if their flight is not affected. That includes non-refundable tickets and customers with basic economy tickets,” Kirby said in the memo.
He added that the airline’s “long-haul international flights and our hub-to-hub flights will not be affected by this FAA schedule reduction.”
AIRLINES ARE WORKING TO LIMIT IMPACT AS FAA RESTRICTS AIR TRAFFIC BY 10% ON 40 MARKETS TO CLOSURE
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, center, along with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, speaks to reporters outside the White House along with Vance, Duffy and others on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“Instead, we will focus our flight schedules on regional flights and domestic flights that do not travel between our hubs,” Kirby said, adding that the airline will use its app, website and push notifications to stay in touch with customers about flight changes and offer rebooking options.
DUFFY ANNOUNCES AIRSPACE RESTRICTIONS AGAINST RECORD GOVERNMENT LOCKOUT
A United Airlines at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. (Daniel Slim/AFP/Getty Images)
“Even with these reductions, United and its United Express partners will still offer approximately 4,000 flights per day to fly our customers to their destinations,” Kirby said.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on the 36th day of the shutdown that the reduction was due to the record drop safety problems in air traffic control.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAL | UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS INC. | 96.65 | +5.88 |
+6.48% |
Duffy said the cuts could be reversed if Democrats agree to reopen the government.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT FOX BUSINESS
The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents to work without pay.
Reuters contributed to this report.
