FAA flight reductions could spark Chicago holiday travel meltdown

What they're saying: "Our sole role is to make sure that we keep this airspace as safe as possible. This is about where the pressure is and how to really deviate the pressure," FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said during a press conference Wednesday.

Zoom in: For Chicago-based United Airlines, the FAA decision to cut up to 10% of flights could impact thousands of its customers.

• "We will continue to make rolling updates to our schedule as the government shutdown continues so we can give our customers several days' advance notice and to minimize disruption," United CEO Scott Kirby said in a letter to employees.

State of play: Kirby says the FAA's schedule reductions will not impact international flights and "hub-to-hub" flying. Instead, the airline will focus on paring back regional flights.

• United is also refunding ticketed passengers who do not wish to fly during the shutdown disruptions.

Friction point: Here comes the holidays. The U.S. Travel Association and nearly 500 tourism organizations and companies are warning of a potential Thanksgiving travel meltdown if the government shutdown drags on.

• In a letter to congressional leaders on Monday, the coalition said the ongoing shutdown could depress demand and cost the U.S. travel economy billions, hurting local businesses nationwide.

Threat level: Thanksgiving week 2024 was one of the busiest on record — and a similar surge this year could overwhelm already strained systems.

By the numbers: The travel economy has already suffered $4 billion in estimated losses so far from the shutdown, the letter said.

• "Thanksgiving should be about spending time with family, not worrying about flight disruptions or canceled plans," Geoff Freeman, U.S. Travel president and CEO, said in the release. "The damage from this shutdown is growing by the hour with 60% of Americans reconsidering their travel plans."