Atlanta airport tops FAA's list for reduced flight capacity due to shutdown

Caption

A Delta Air Lines jet taxis across Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in 2025.

Credit: Khari J. Sampson / GPB News

The Federal Aviation Administration will announce the 40 “high-volume markets” where it is reducing flights by 10% before the cuts go into effect Friday, agency administrator Bryan Bedford told the Associated Press. The purpose of the reduction is to keep air space safer.

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is expected to be on the list.

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

Delta Air Lines, which is based in Atlanta and is the largest carrier at ATL, is complying with a directive from the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation to reduce flights at 40 major U.S. airports beginning Friday, Nov 7. 

"Delta expects to operate the vast majority of our flights as scheduled, including all long-haul international service, and will work to minimize customer impact while keeping safety our top priority," a statement said. "We are providing additional flexibility to all of our customers during the impacted travel period to change, cancel or refund their flights, including our basic economy fares, without penalty."

The airline says it will work to give customers as much notice as possible about any changes to their flight and encourages them to check their flight status on delta.com or the Fly Delta app for the latest information.

The FAA has not released its list but the Core 30 airports in the U.S. include:

• ATL - Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
• BOS - Boston Logan International
• BWI - Baltimore/Washington International
• CLT - Charlotte Douglas International
• DCA - Ronald Reagan Washington National
• DEN - Denver International
• DFW - Dallas/Fort Worth International
• DTW - Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
• EWR - Newark Liberty International
• FLL - Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International
• HNL - Honolulu International
• IAD - Washington Dulles International
• IAH - George Bush Houston Intercontinental
• JFK - New York John F. Kennedy International
• LAS - Las Vegas McCarran International
• LAX - Los Angeles International
• LGA - New York LaGuardia
• MCO - Orlando International
• MDW - Chicago Midway
• MEM - Memphis International
• MIA - Miami International
• MSP - Minneapolis/St. Paul International
• ORD - Chicago O`Hare International
• PHL - Philadelphia International
• PHX - Phoenix Sky Harbor International
• SAN - San Diego International
• SEA - Seattle/Tacoma International
• SFO - San Francisco International
• SLC - Salt Lake City International
• TPA - Tampa International