The Federal Aviation Administration has opened a formal investigation into whether major US airlines complied with its November 2025 emergency order requiring carriers to cut flights at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports during the 43-day federal government shutdown.
In a statement, the agency said it has contacted scheduled carriers that operate more than 10 daily flights at any of the airports listed in its November 12 order. Those airlines — a group that includes United, Delta, American, Southwest, JetBlue and others — now have 30 days to provide documentation showing they followed the mandated flight-reduction limits.
Airlines that exceeded those limits could face civil penalties of up to $75,000 per flight, according to the agency.
The directive, issued as unpaid air traffic controllers increasingly missed work, required Part 121 and scheduled Part 135 operators to cut their domestic schedules by 6% between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. at each affected airport. The reductions were intended to stabilize operations amid an unprecedented staffing squeeze. The FAA rolled back the cuts after the shutdown ended on November 12 and lifted restrictions completely on November 16.
The agency’s letters to airlines outline a broad review of carrier behavior during the nine-day period when the emergency order was fully in effect. Each letter notes the potential for penalties and asks carriers to supply “any evidence or statements” demonstrating compliance. The investigation covers airports including New York JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and others.
Reports of possible non-compliance emerged as the shutdown intensified. Cirium data cited by multiple outlets suggested that on November 14 — when a full 6% cut was required — airlines collectively reduced schedules by only about 2%. The FAA referenced those concerns last month but stopped short of confirming whether a large-scale review was underway until now.
The shutdown produced widespread operational and financial fallout across the industry. Delta Air Lines said the disruptions cost the carrier roughly $200 million as refunds climbed and bookings slowed following public warnings from the FAA and the Department of Transportation about controller staffing constraints. Southwest Airlines similarly warned of financial repercussions from the shutdown. More than 10,000 flights were canceled across the US between November 7 and 16, according to FAA figures.
Airlines have until early January 2026 to respond to the FAA’s request for records. The agency said any information submitted will be considered as part of its enforcement review. It has not publicly identified which carriers it believes may have exceeded the limits or how many potential violations it is examining.
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