WEATHER ALERT

1 advisories in effect for 2 regions in the area

Flyers frustrated as FAA reduces flights at FLL, MIA over shutdown

Christina Vazquez, Reporter

Walter Murphy, Reporter

JOSH FUNK and RIO YAMAT, Associated Press

Published: 

Multiple delays, cancellations reported at South Florida airports as FAA slashes traffic

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A Federal Aviation Administration flight reduction order has led to delays and cancellations at South Florida’s two main airports.

The FAA has directed airlines to reduce flights by 4% initially, increasing to 10% by next Friday at 40 airports, including the Miami and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airports.

Airlines hurried to adjust their schedules and began canceling flights Thursday, while travelers waited nervously to learn if their flights would take off as scheduled.

Miami International Airport reported 77 delays and 26 cancellations as of around noon Friday, while Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport reported 48 delays and 18 cancellations.

At FLL, traveler Jacy Todorovich, headed home to Ohio, said she arrived 12 hours early.

“I wanted to be prompt and make sure that if there were any delays and had to make any changes, I had plenty of time to do so,” Todorovich said. “Because getting home to me is really important, and finding another way to get home is a 20-hour drive or a 40-hour train ride.”

She added, “I’m a nurse. I have to get back home so I can go take care of patients. There (are) plenty of people here (who) do everyday jobs that need to get back home and also so they can make money to continue living the way they currently do. So unfortunately, it hurts every day, regular people like you and I and you know, it’s not fair that we’re the ones suffering.”

FAA officials said the cuts are necessary to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay for more than a month. Many are pulling six-day work weeks with mandatory overtime, and increasing numbers of them have begun calling out as the financial strain and exhaustion mount.

“I feel that the government needs to negotiate and get back on track with the people,” a flyer at MIA told Local 10 News.

The order comes as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Democrats in Congress to end the shutdown.

Ending the shutdown would ease the situation for controllers, but the FAA said the flight cuts will remain in place until their safety data improves.

Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

About The Author
Christina Vazquez

Christina Vazquez

Christina returned to Local 10 in 2019 as a reporter after covering Hurricane Dorian for the station. She is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist and previously earned an Emmy Award while at WPLG for her investigative consumer protection segment "Call Christina."

Walter Murphy

Walter Murphy

Walter Murphy is a 2x Emmy nominated journalist who joined Local 10 News in July 2025. He is excited to bring his investigative drive and on-the-ground experience to South Florida audiences.