United Airlines will allow customers to receive full refunds for travel scheduled during the ongoing government shutdown, even for non-refundable or basic economy tickets. CEO Scott Kirby shared the update in a memo to employees as federal agencies announced widespread flight schedule reductions.
Flight Reductions at 40 Airports
The Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation instructed airlines to scale back flight schedules across 40 domestic airports beginning Friday. The move comes amid staffing shortages caused by the shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history.
Kirby said United will prioritize maintaining long-haul international flights and hub-to-hub routes, while reductions will mainly affect regional and domestic flights that do not connect major hubs. Customers will receive updates and rebooking options through the United app, website and alert notifications.
4,000 Daily Flights to Continue
Despite the cuts, United and United Express partners still plan to operate around 4,000 flights per day. Kirby emphasized the airline’s intent to minimize disruption where possible.
Airspace Restrictions Announced
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the schedule reductions were ordered due to air traffic control safety risks. Roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA employees are currently working without pay, intensifying staffing strain.
Duffy noted the restrictions could be lifted if political negotiations lead to reopening the government.
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