“Outnumbered” describes expected cuts to air travel as the Trump administration looks to ease pressure on air traffic controllers as the government shutdown continues.
America’s busiest airports handled hundreds of millions of passengers last year, and many travelers could soon feel the impact as airlines are ordered to cancel flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that 40 of the busiest airports in the US will see a 10% reduction in flights starting Friday, citing continued pressure on air traffic controllers during the federal government shutdown.
Although the FAA has not yet made an official public announcement, The New York Times on Thursday reported a list of airports expected to be affected, including the country’s ten busiest hubs.
According to data from the FAA And Airports Council InternationalThese were the top 10 busiest US airports in 2024:
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Located about 10 miles south of the Downtown Atlanta neighborhood, ATL was the busiest airport in the U.S. last year with a total of 108,067,766 passengers – a 3.3% increase from 2023.
It recorded 52,511,402 passengers on board – known as enplanements – an increase of 3.06% year on year.
FAA CONFIRMS WHICH 40 MARKETS CAN CUT AVIATION TRAFFIC BY 10%
Air travelers are faced with their commute Thursday morning at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta. (Elia Nouvelage / Reuters)
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
DFW, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, served a total of 87,817,864 passengers in 2024, an increase of 7.4% from the previous year.
The number of aircraft reached 42,351,316, an increase of 7.91% compared to 2023.
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Colorado’s DEN handled 82,358,744 passengers in 2024, a 5.8% increase from 2023.
It registered 40,012,895 aircraft, an increase of 5.68% over the previous year.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Located on the Northwest Side of Chicago, ORD saw 80,043,050 passengers in 2024, an increase of 8.3% from the previous year.
The number of aircraft amounted to 38,575,693, an increase of 7.62% compared to 2023.
A United Airlines commercial plane takes off from Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on Thursday. (Mike Blake/Reuters)
UNITED AIRLINES TO OFFER REFUNDS DUE TO SHUTDOWN FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
California’s LAX had a total of 76,588,028 passengers last year, a 2% increase over the previous year.
The number of aircraft decreased by 7.8% compared to the previous year to 37,760,834.
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
JFK, based in Queens, New York, served 63,265,984 passengers, up 1.9% from 2023.
It registered 31,466,102 aircraft, an increase of 2.15% over the previous year.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
CLT in Charlotte, North Carolina had 58,811,725 passengers last year, a 10% increase over the previous year.
The number of aircraft increased by 10.15% to 28,523,822.
FLORIDA’S BUSIEST AIRPORT REJECTS ALL FLIGHTS AMONG AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER SHORTAGE
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), in Las Vegas, Nevada, had a total of 58,482,005 passengers last year, an increase of 1.4% over the previous year.
The number of aircraft was 28,244,966, an increase of 1.25%.
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Florida’s MCO handled a total of 57,211,628 passengers last year, a decrease of 0.9% from the previous year.
It registered 27,859,783 aircraft, a decrease of 0.62%.
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Meanwhile, Florida’s MIA served a total of 55,926,566 passengers in 2024, an increase of 6.9% from the previous year.
The number of aircraft increased by 7.57% to 26,588,002.
The federal government shutdown has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to work without pay.
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday that the cuts could be reversed if Democrats agree to reopen the government.
