Starting Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration will reduce flights by 10% at 40 major airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The alert comes as the FAA begins reducing flight traffic by 10% at 40 airports across the country, including Atlanta. According to the FAA, departures have been delayed an average of 30 minutes and that number is increasing. So far, at least 80 flights have been canceled and 115 flights have been delayed, according to Flight Aware.

The FAA ordered the flight cuts because of increased strain on unpaid air traffic controllers during the government shutdown.

Travelers will need to pack their patience as dozens of flights have already been canceled Friday morning. The Federal Aviation Administration’s order to scale back flights nationwide amid the ongoing the government shutdown went into effect today.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted on Friday that the number of affected flights could increase up to 20 percent as more air traffic controllers miss work

A small percentage of domestic flights were canceled on Friday, but Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the reductions, which were already going to increase next week, could sharply rise by the holidays if the shutdown continued.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said there will be a 10% reduction in flights at 40 airports, prompted by a historic government shutdown.

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – Delta Air Lines will launch its seasonal route between Traverse City and Atlanta about a month early in 2026, officials announced. Nonstop service between TVC Cherry Capital Airport and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport will begin on Saturday, May 23.