{"id":362795,"date":"2025-11-07T18:56:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T18:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/362795\/"},"modified":"2025-11-07T18:56:28","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T18:56:28","slug":"phoenix-sky-harbor-flights-canceled-amid-faa-cuts-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/362795\/","title":{"rendered":"Phoenix Sky Harbor flights canceled amid FAA cuts: What to know"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Southwest
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tA Southwest plane taxis at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Southwest Airlines<\/p>\n

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport<\/a> will be among 40 \u201chigh-volume markets\u201d whose flights will be reduced by 10% on Friday due to staffing shortages caused by the ongoing government shutdown.<\/p>\n

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that the country\u2019s busiest markets will have to make cuts, affecting roughly 3,500 to 4,000 flights daily<\/a>. According to a list published<\/a> by CBS News and ABC News, Sky Harbor is one of those airports. That\u2019s hardly a surprise, given that Sky Harbor<\/a> is among the 15 busiest airports in the country.<\/p>\n

How is Sky Harbor being affected by the cutbacks?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sky Harbor has already faced issues during the government shutdown, which reached 37 days as of Thursday and is now the longest shutdown in U.S. history.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWill you step up to support New Times this year?<\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, the FAA issued a\u00a0ground delay<\/a> at Sky Harbor due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, delaying more than 340 flights. Federal workers, like air traffic controllers and TSA agents, are expected to work but are not being paid during the shutdown. On Wednesday, more than 220 flights out of the airport were delayed and nearly 50 were canceled. On Thursday by 11:30 a.m., 73 flights were delayed at Sky Harbor and one was canceled.<\/p>\n

As of Friday morning, Sky Harbor\u2019s website<\/a> counted 115 affected flights between Thursday morning and Saturday morning, split about evenly between cancellations and delays. Most of those flights were on Southwest and American Airlines. A handful of Alaska, Delta and United flights were also affected.<\/p>\n

At least security lines are moving. On Friday morning the airport\u2019s five checkpoints had an average wait time under 10 minutes.<\/p>\n

\n

Due to air traffic capacity constraints, we’re anticipating delays. Please check your flight status with your airline before coming to the airport. You can also check TSA Security Checkpoint wait times on https:\/\/t.co\/GMg4tp70FL<\/a> and on the information displays in each terminal.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (@PHXSkyHarbor) November 5, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The FAA\u2019s order will take effect on Friday morning. In an email, Sky Harbor spokesperson Gregory Roybal directed New Times to contact the FAA for further information and encouraged passengers to verify their flight status with their airline before arriving at the airport.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur sole role is to make sure that we keep this airspace as safe as possible,\u201d FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said during a Wednesday press conference. \u201cThis is about the pressure and how to really deviate the pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

To make matters more annoying for travelers, the Sky Harbor is currently in the midst of a construction project near Terminal 3, which will cause overnight road closures around the airport starting Sunday and continuing through Nov. 18.<\/p>\n

How long will the shutdown last?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass a budget or resolution to fund the government. It could last a while.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Republicans are falsely claiming that Democrats are holding out to get health care benefits for undocumented immigrants, while Democrats have said they are fighting to preserve Obamacare premium subsidies that make health insurance affordable for millions.<\/p>\n

Unless Republicans ditch the filibuster, as Trump has demanded they do, the GOP needs to convert some Democratic senators to reopen the government. Otherwise, the sides will have to sit down and negotiate their way out.<\/p>\n

\"unitedUnited Airlines planes sit at gates at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.<\/p>\n

What do I do if my flight is canceled at Sky Harbor?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many airlines are offering refunds or rebookings depending on the situation. Call the airline you\u2019re flying with to see what they\u2019re offering to customers amid the reduction.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what to expect for the major airlines.<\/p>\n

American Airlines\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a statement Thursday morning<\/a>, American Airlines said it expects flights on Thursday to operate as planned and expects the \u201cvast majority\u201d of its customers to be unaffected. Long-haul international flights, which are typically six hours or longer, will continue as scheduled. However, the airlines did encourage flyers to check their flight status.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Customers whose flights are cancelled or who choose not to fly will be able to change their flight or get a refund without penalty.<\/p>\n

Delta\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Delta expects most of its flights to operate as scheduled, including its long-haul international flights, it stated in a press release Thursday morning<\/a>. Travelers will be able to cancel or refund their flights, including Delta Main Basic Fares, without penalty during the shutdown.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Delta said flyers should check their flight status to stay informed about potential changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Southwest\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a short statement on Wednesday<\/a>, Southwest said it doesn\u2019t expect international flights to be affected and said it will work \u201cproactively\u201d to communicate with flyers \u201cwell in advance\u201d and offer \u201cflexibility in travel plans.\u201d Information surrounding potential refunds wasn\u2019t included in their announcement, though Southwest fares are generally refundable.<\/p>\n

The majority of the delays on Thursday morning at Sky Harbor were for Southwest flights.\u00a0<\/p>\n

JetBlue<\/strong><\/p>\n

The airline said in a press release<\/a> that it\u2019d reach out to affected customers directly if their flight is impacted by the reduction. In most cases, flyers will be automatically rebooked to the next JetBlue flight. Customers can also request a full refund.\u00a0<\/p>\n

United\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a statement,<\/a> United Airlines said long-haul international flights and hub-to-hub flights won\u2019t be impacted. However, Sky Harbor is not one of United\u2019s hubs, so passengers traveling to those hubs \u2014 including Chicago O\u2019Hare Airport, Denver International Airport and Dulles International Airport \u2014 could still experience delays.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reductions will be scheduled for regional flying and domestic mainline flights, including flights from Sky Harbor to other U.S. cities. Any customer traveling during this period is eligible for a refund if they don\u2019t want to fly, even if their flight isn\u2019t impacted. This includes both non-refundable tickets and basic economy tickets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

United still plans to have 4,000 flights a day across the country.<\/p>\n

Frontier\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the reductions, Frontier <\/a>stated that it expected most flights to operate as scheduled but would make adjustments to the flight schedule as necessary and communicate with customers proactively. Customers can rebook or request a refund for domestic flights that are canceled or delayed for more than three hours. Customers can do the same for international flights that are canceled or delayed for more than six hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n

They have also issued a flexible travel policy for customers who\u2019d like to cancel or change their plans during the shutdown.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t