A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 at Denver International Airport. The airline said it plans to cut about 120 flights across 34 airports due to the 2025 U.S. federal government shutdown.

Southwest Airlines said it was cutting more than 100 flights on Friday Nov. 7, with dozens more being canceled on Saturday, Nov. 8 due to air traffic restrictions issued during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The airline slashed about 120 flights across 34 airports on Friday, Nov. 7, Southwest released in a statement to USA TODAY.

The low-cost, Dallas-based carrier said it expects cancellations to impact less than 100 flights on Saturday, Nov. 8 and that "the vast majority" of customers' flights "will not be disrupted."

USA TODAY has reached out to Southwest to confirm exactly how many flights would be canceled on Nov. 8 and in subsequent days.

Here's what to know about Southwest's response to flight reductions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Where might Southwest flights be canceled?

Southwest did not specify which 34 airports would be impacted by its cancellations.

But according to the emergency order provided to USA TODAY by the U.S. Department of Transportation on Nov. 6, airports in New York, California and others are included in the list of sites facing flight reductions.

The airports facing flight cuts as a result of the federal order are listed below:

  • Anchorage International (ANC)
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
  • Boston Logan International (BOS)
  • Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
  • Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
  • Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
  • Dallas Love (DAL)
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
  • Denver International (DEN)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
  • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
  • Newark Liberty International (EWR)
  • Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
  • Honolulu International (HNL)
  • Houston Hobby (HOU)
  • Washington Dulles International (IAD)
  • George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
  • Indianapolis International (IND)
  • New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
  • Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
  • Los Angeles International (LAX)
  • New York LaGuardia (LGA)
  • Orlando International (MCO)
  • Chicago Midway (MDW)
  • Memphis International (MEM)
  • Miami International (MIA)
  • Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP)
  • Oakland International (OAK)
  • Ontario International (ONT)
  • Chicago O`Hare International (ORD)
  • Portland International (PDX)
  • Philadelphia International (PHL)
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
  • San Diego International (SAN)
  • Louisville International (SDF)
  • Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)
  • San Francisco International (SFO)
  • Salt Lake City International (SLC)
  • Teterboro (TEB)
  • Tampa International (TPA)

What happens if my Southwest flight is canceled?

Travelers with flights booked through Nov. 12 may choose to adjust their travel plans at no cost or receive a refund if they choose not to travel, even if their flight is not affected, the company told USA TODAY.

"Southwest’s international flights will not be affected," Ashley Persons, a spokesperson for the airline told USA TODAY.

"We will continue to update customers as this situation evolves," Persons said. "We continue to urge Congress to immediately resolve its impasse and restore the National Airspace System to its full capacity"

Why is Southwest cutting flights?

The announcement comes after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday Nov. 5 that 40 major airports will see a 10% cut in flights. Duffy had previously warned of staffing shortages among air traffic controllers across the United States amid the record-breaking government shutdown.

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford told CEOs of major airlines that the flight cuts would begin at a 4% reduction on Nov. 7, rise to 5% on Nov. 8 and 6% on Nov. 9 before hitting 10% next week.

The drastic plan to reduce flights sent airlines scrambling to cut flights in just 36 hours, and passengers flooded airline customer service hotlines with concerns about air travel in the coming days.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Southwest cancels over 100 flights at 34 airports due to FAA reductions

Reporting by Natalie Neysa Alund and James Powel, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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