Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) to communicate warnings about heightened military activity or worsening security situations that could affect civil aviation operations.

Airlines may suspend or cancel international flights in response to FAA NOTAMs that warn of heightened military activity or security threats.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can require percentage-based flight reductions at selected airports to manage air traffic when safety concerns or staffing shortages arise.

FAA safety assessments for air traffic operations use metrics such as controller callout rates, aircraft proximity incidents, runway incursions, and pilot reports about controller performance.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can order U.S. airlines to reduce scheduled flights at specific airports to scale back demand on the national aviation system for safety reasons when air traffic control staffing is insufficient.

The Federal Aviation Administration can impose flight restrictions that bar some private flights, including business jets, from using airports that are operating under commercial flight limits.

The FAA bases decisions to lift imposed flight reductions on improvements in safety metrics and on stabilization of staffing levels at its air traffic control facilities.

U.S. federal government shutdowns can disrupt services and operations, including causing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to cancel flights and pausing processing or benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Aviation authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can order reductions in airline capacity at specific airports when air traffic controller staffing shortages materially affect safe or efficient operations; capacity-reduction orders in such situations have been implemented at magnitudes on the order of 10% in affected high-volume areas.

Air traffic management authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can reduce scheduled flight capacity at high-volume airports to manage air traffic when there are shortages of air traffic controllers.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the U.S. government agency responsible for providing air traffic control services in the United States.

Shortages of certified air traffic controllers can lead airlines to reduce scheduled flights and cancel flights as an operational response to air traffic control staffing constraints.

As of 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directs more than 44,000 flights per day across commercial passenger flights, cargo planes, and private aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can temporarily slow down or stop air traffic at airports when it is short on air traffic controllers.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can slow air traffic into specific airports when air traffic controller staffing shortages occur in order to ensure safe operations.

U.S. aviation authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have the authority to close or restrict airspace and delay flights when safety issues are identified.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reduces or slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations when there are increased air traffic control staffing shortages.

As of 2025, U.S. air traffic control staffing shortages have been exacerbated by insufficient hiring, lengthy training timelines, and high trainee dropout rates.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data indicate a 400% increase in in-flight disturbances, including disruptive behavior and violence, between 2019 and 2024.

Reports of unruly passengers in 2024 remained above pre-pandemic levels, according to Federal Aviation Administration and airline union data.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can impose ground delays or limit air traffic at an airport when an air traffic control facility is understaffed in order to preserve safety.

In 2021, nearly one in five U.S. flight attendants reported experiencing a physical incident, according to union and Federal Aviation Administration data.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifies air traffic controllers as essential employees who are required to remain on duty during government shutdowns even if they are not paid while the shutdown is in effect.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has sick leave rules for air traffic controllers, and employees who abuse sick leave policies may face disciplinary action up to termination.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducts investigations into in-flight incidents to determine their causes.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can direct that passengers be removed from an aircraft and that the aircraft be positioned away from the terminal while authorities investigate reported security issues.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has the authority to halt flights at an airport in response to security threats.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are federal agencies that investigate aviation accidents and incidents to determine causes and improve aviation safety.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are agencies that investigate civil aviation accidents and incidents.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can issue emergency orders to limit or reduce air traffic at airports in order to maintain safety amid staffing shortages.

Air traffic control operations use staffing-trigger metrics that can prompt operational responses such as flight reductions or ground stops when controller staffing falls below set thresholds.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has authority to impose civil penalties on carriers that operate flights in excess of government-imposed capacity limits.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can limit flights in response to air traffic controller staffing shortages.