FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford warns that widespread controller absences amid the federal government shutdown are already inflicting main flight delays and will worsen as Thanksgiving approaches.
United Airways prospects with flights booked to journey in the course of the authorities shutdown shall be eligible for a refund, CEO Scott Kirby advised staff in a memo on Wednesday.
The information got here after the Federal Aviation Administration and Division of Transportation introduced a discount in schedules throughout 40 home airports, beginning on Friday, because of the shutdown.
“[A]ny buyer touring throughout this era is eligible for a refund if they don’t want to fly – even when their flight is not impacted. That features non-refundable tickets and people prospects with fundamental financial system tickets,” Kirby stated within the memo.
He added that the airline’s “long-haul worldwide flying and our hub-to-hub flying is not going to be impacted by this schedule discount course from the FAA.”
AIRLINES WORK TO LIMIT IMPACT AS FAA CUTS AIR TRAFFIC BY 10% ACROSS 40 MARKETS AMID SHUTDOWN
United Airways CEO Scott Kirby, middle, joined by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, speaks to reporters exterior the White Home on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Kirby, joined with Vance, Duffy and ot (Kevin Dietsch / Getty Photographs)
“As a substitute, we’ll focus our schedule reductions on regional flying and home mainline flights that don’t journey between our hubs,” Kirby stated, including that the airline will make the most of its app, web site and push notifications to remain in contact with prospects about flight adjustments and to supply rebooking choices.
DUFFY ANNOUNCES AIRSPACE RESTRICTIONS AMID RECORD GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
A United Airways at Chicago O’Hare Worldwide Airport. (Daniel Slim/AFP / Getty Photographs)
“Even with these schedule reductions, United and its United Categorical companions will nonetheless provide about 4,000 flights per day to fly our prospects to their locations,” Kirby stated.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy broadcasts new airspace restrictions because the 36-day authorities shutdown creates FAA staffing shortages and flight delays on Nov. 5, 2025. (Fox Information / Fox Information)
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on the shutdown’s file thirty sixth day the discount was attributable to air site visitors management security considerations.
| Ticker | Safety | Final | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAL | UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS INC. | 96.65 | +5.88 | +6.48% |
Duffy stated the cuts may very well be reversed if Democrats agreed to reopen the federal government.
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The shutdown, the longest in U.S. historical past, has compelled 13,000 air site visitors controllers and 50,000 Transportation Safety Administration brokers to work with out pay.
Reuters contributed to this report.
