Nervous about your upcoming flights? As we head into the busy holiday travel season, it’s worth calling out a key factor that’s having real impact on both private air charters and commercial aviation — and how our bespoke private charter can help you navigate it more smoothly.
⚠️What’s happening (As of Nov 6th, 2025)
Because of the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the broader air-traffic-control system are under unusual pressure. Federal air-traffic controllers and other operational staff have been working without pay, leading to increased sick-calls, fatigue, and staffing shortages.
As a result, on Thursday NOV 6th, 2025, the FAA directed domestic flight operations at 40 major U.S. airports to reduce capacity: starting with a 4% cut in operations from November 7 and ramping up to 10% reductions by November 14.
These cuts and the staffing shortfalls are already causing cancellations and delays — especially at high-volume hub airports.
Important Travel Advisory (Nov 10th, 2025)
We are providing this update to help you plan ahead for upcoming travel. Due to FAA staffing shortages and ATC constraints resulting from the ongoing government shutdown, there have been significant delays and cancellations across the commercial aviation system. These disruptions are now affecting general aviation (G.A.) flights, including some private operations.
As of last night, the FAA announced temporary closures of certain major metropolitan airports to G.A. aircraft, including:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
- Denver International Airport (DEN)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
These closures are effective beginning at midnight Eastern tonight (10/0500z) and will remain in effect until 31 December 2025 (2359z) unless canceled earlier. Individual NOTAMs will be published at each affected airport. Limited exceptions will be made for:
- Based aircraft operations
- Emergency, medical, law enforcement, firefighting, or military flights
- Operations specifically authorized by the FAA
Business aircraft operators should also prepare for further delays and restrictions at any of the 40 airports impacted by the emergency order or affected by limited controller staffing. Some private operators who normally use larger airports are now moving to regional facilities, which may increase congestion and potential ground or air delays—even at smaller airports within the same airspace.
What you can do
- Plan to arrive at the airport at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. Arriving late can create disruptions or even lead to cancellations.
- If you wish to adjust your departure time 15–30 minutes earlier to reduce the risk of extended delays, contact us immediately. We will do our best to accommodate schedule change requests based on aircraft and crew availability.
- Allow for additional flexibility in your travel plans, as ATC-related delays may occur with little advance notice.
Our team is actively monitoring the situation and working to mitigate any delays or disruptions. We share this proactively for full transparency and to help you plan ahead.
Why private aviation is better placed — but still subject to regulations and closures
As a broker arranging private-charter flights worldwide, Air Charter Advisors operates in a more flexible space. Private flights, though still regulated by the FAA and subject to ATC constraints, often depart from less congested airports, have fewer connections, and are less reliant on the hub-and-spoke systems of commercial airlines.
Private charter advantages in this environment:
- Smaller departure/arrival airports mean fewer delays from cascading hub disruptions.
- Less dependence on connecting flights or large-scale commercial scheduling reduces domino delays.
- Private operators can switch airports or adjust routing more nimbly during system stress.
While these points help alleviate the current stressors, air charter services are still subject to all FAA regulations.
Illustrative examples
Los Angeles region
Instead of flying into or out of LAX — one of the high-volume airports impacted by FAA reductions — private clients can use Van Nuys Airport (VNY). This reduces exposure to hub delays and cancellations.
Miami region
Instead of MIA, clients can choose Opa-Locka Executive Airport (OPF) for departure or arrival, avoiding commercial-airline crowding and schedule cuts.
Even if FAA reductions impact smaller regional airports, we can pivot to alternate nearby airports. While this may require longer ground transfers, it can still save significant time versus commercial travel.
What this means for your holiday travel
With the government shutdown and associated ATC/FAA pressures continuing into the holiday season, delays at major hubs are a realistic risk. Booking early, considering alternative airports, and building in buffer time are smart moves.
By working with Air Charter Advisors and flying via smaller regional airports where possible, you improve your odds of a smoother trip with less chaos.
✈️Your next step
Let’s get your holiday travel booked for peace of mind. Whether your plans are domestic or international, we’ll tailor an itinerary that leverages regional airports—reducing exposure to hub-related cancellations and keeping you on the move.
Call us today or request a quote online and we’ll walk you through options, timing, airport choices, and route optimization. Secure your charter now before schedules tighten.