Jonathan Gordon

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Nov 7, 2025, 5:55 AM

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Updated

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Travelers across the country are scrambling as airlines begin cutting back on the number of domestic flights amid the longest government shutdown in American history.

"Everyone has changed their flights and it's a holiday," Wantagh resident Michele Codoluto said. "I tried to come home Monday, thinking that would make it a little easier and less stressful, but it is what it is."

The Federal Aviation Administration said the cuts are in response to a shortage of air traffic controllers who have not been paid in over a month.

On the list of 40 affected airports are JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty.

"I was feeling good until yesterday about flying today because it was the big three that were affected and my little airport here in Islip wasn't," Riverhead resident Marty Weinhardt said.

While MacArthur in Ronkonkoma is not on the list, airports with direct flights to and from Long Island are impacted and could alter travelers' flight plans this weekend and for as long as the government shutdown lingers. These destinations include Boston, Baltimore, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.

"I'm a little bit anxious," passenger Jan Maze said. "I have to go to Baltimore Airport, so I know that's on the list of 40. I thought about changing my flight to yesterday, but ultimately didn't."

Inbound and outbound flights are moving on time this morning at MacArthur, but many passengers expressed concerns about whether their returning flights next week and beyond could be on the chopping block.

"We're going to Florida and we're going to be there for a week or so," Port Jefferson Station resident Dennis Guadagno said. "We'll keep our fingers crossed. That's the best we can do."

The cuts started at 4% today, but the FAA said it plans to ramp up to 10% by next Friday if the government isn't reopened by then.

List of affected airports

• Anchorage International

• Baltimore/Washington International

• Boston-Logan International

• Charlotte Douglas International

• Chicago Midway International

• Chicago O'Hare International

• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International

• Dallas-Fort Worth International

• Dallas Love Field

• Denver International

• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International

• George Bush Houston Intercontinental

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International

• Honolulu International

• Houston Hobby

• Indianapolis International

• Las Vegas Harry Reid International

• Los Angeles International

• Louisville Muhammad Ali International

• Memphis International

• Miami International

• Minneapolis-Saint Paul International

• New York LaGuardia

• New York John F. Kennedy International

• Newark Liberty International

• Oakland San Francisco Bay International

• Ontario International

• Orlando International

• Philadelphia International

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International

• Portland International

• Ronald Reagan Washington National

• San Diego International

• Salt Lake City International

• San Francisco International

• Seattle-Tacoma International

• Tampa International

• Teterboro

• Washington Dulles International