The FAA Has Grounded Private Jets at 12 U.S. Airports
At midnight, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered private-jet operations at 12 major U.S. airports to a temporary halt. This follows a separate FAA mandate last week calling for a 10 percent phased reduction of domestic flights, both commercial and private, at 40 high-impact airports.
The FAA orders come as airports struggle with safety issues. Some air-traffic facilities are at 53 percent of normal staffing levels, according to reports, with certain shifts down 80 percent. Caught in the government shutdown, air-traffic controllers have not been paid since early October. The U.S. Senate is now working on a path to temporarily end the shutdown, at least until January 30, 2026, so government employees can return to work.
Forty airports last week announced a phase-down in flights, while the FAA announced that 12 airports would halt private aircraft operations.
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The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), a trade group for business aviation, warned of “further delays and restrictions” at the impacted airports. Solairus Aviation CEO Dan Drohan called the situation a “total sh*tshow,” writing on LinkedIn that his company’s fleet has experienced “delays and complications” over the weekend. “Tomorrow will likely be much worse,” he added.
Private-jet activity impacted by Sunday’s FAA order include Chicago O’Hare (ORD); Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW); Denver International (DEN); Logan International (BOS); George Bush International (IAH); Atlanta (ATL); John F. Kennedy (JFK); Los Angeles International (LAX); Newark Liberty International (EWR); Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX); Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA); Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA).
PrivateJetCardComparisons.com reported last week that private-aviation companies were already seeing delays at some airports on the original list, including Teterboro, the busiest airport for private jet flights. Heidi J. Williams, NBAA vice president, air traffic services & infrastructure, told a webinar on Thursday that the mandate covers all operators, including those flying under Part 135 (charter and jet cards), Part 91k (fractional), and Part 91 (owner-operated).
Private-aircraft firms are scrambling to re-route flights.
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“We are receiving bookings already from impacted flight cancellations,” Anthony Tivnan, president of Magellan Jets, told the website.
Flexjet CEO Andrew Collins added that the firm’s fractional business has been rising since the government shutdown started in early October, including having the third-busiest flight day in the company’s history on a “random Sunday” last month. Flexjet, the world’s second-largest fractional operator, is seeing a 23 percent increase in year-to-date flights. Its FXAir Group also reported a 56 percent jump in charter flight legs in October.
Other providers have also reported stronger results. “We’ve seen a big spike recently in charter inquiries online, many from first-time fliers looking for guaranteed access when the airlines cannot deliver,” Jets.com EVP Sales Vincent Kavanagh told the website.
With the government shutdown now impacting commercial flights, many private air providers report higher activity.
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Despite the heightened demand, every private air firm is attempting to complete their clients’ flights within the new FAA restrictions. Collins said Flexjet has an internal system designed to handle an unusual circumstance like this, comparing it to an extreme weather event, to limit flight delays or cancellations. Other providers have been busy making alternative arrangements for clients on other aircraft, or at satellite airports that are not on the lists.
But even with systems in place, Magellan’s Tivnan said ATC staffing will rattle every aviation segment. “A prolonged government shutdown impacts the entire aviation ecosystem,” he told PrivateJetCardComparisons.com. “ATC staffing affects everyone.”
