FAA Investigates US Airlines for Non-Compliance with Flight Reduction Order

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched a formal investigation into whether major US airlines complied with its emergency order to cut flights at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports during the 43-day federal government shutdown. The FAA has contacted scheduled carriers that operate more than 10 daily flights at any of the airports listed in its November 12 order and has asked them to provide documentation showing they followed the mandated flight-reduction limits. The investigation covers airports including New York JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and others. The FAA has not publicly identified which carriers it believes may have exceeded the limits or how many potential violations it is examining. The agency has given airlines until early January 2026 to respond to its request for records. The investigation is part of the FAA’s enforcement review, which will consider any information submitted by airlines.