How FAA airline flight cuts are impacting private jet companies, flyers

Private jet flight providers say they are seeing increased call volume from consumers in the wake of the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to mandate flight cuts at the nation’s 40 busiest airports.

They are also bracing for a possible impact on private flights, with some saying they have already seen the effects of FAA staffing shortages.

Eight airports where the FAA is imposing flight limits are among the 25 busiest for private jet users.

That includes Teterboro Airport, which ranks as the busiest airport for private jet flights.

Other airports impacted by the FAA-mandated flight curbs with high private aviation activity include Dallas Love Field, Fort Lauderdale International Airport, Houston William P. Hobby Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport, Chicago Midway Airport, and Salt Lake City International Airport.

The complete list of 40 impacted airports is at the bottom of this story.

NBAA Vice President, Air Traffic Services & Infrastructure Heidi J. Williams says the FAA mandate at the impacted airports covers all operators, including those flying under Part 135 (charter and jet cards), Part 91k (fractional), and Part 91 (owner-operated).

“We will be part of that reduction,” she told a webinar yesterday.

The FAA actions are a result of the ongoing government shutdown.

Air Traffic Controllers haven’t been paid since October 3, 2025.

The FAA has said reducing flights at busy airports is necessary to ensure safety.

Per the directive, which goes into effect today, air carriers are “required to reduce by their total daily scheduled domestic operations between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.”

Carriers had to cut flights by 4% at those airports as of this morning.

By November 14, 2025, and thereafter, operators need to reduce schedules by 10%.

FAA officials said if the shutdown continues, deeper cuts may be necessary.

Increased Demand

Flexjet, Inc. Global CEO Andrew Collins tells Private Jet Card Comparisons its Flexjet fractional unit has already been seeing heightened demand.

He says there has been a decided increase in owners booking at the 12-hour window.

A random Sunday last month turned out to be the third-busiest in Flexjet history, with no major event driving the demand.

He said ODQ, short for Owner Demand Quotient, spiked in October.

That’s above an already year-to-date 23% increase in flying.

Flexjet is the second-largest operator in the U.S. based on fractional/charter flight hours.

Its FXAir group, which focuses on ad hoc charter, had a 56% jump in flight legs last month.

“Fly Alliance has been seeing an increased demand for private flying due to the commercial airline reduction in flights,” according to CEO Kevin Wargo.

He adds, “Our clients are choosing to fly privately for more trips given the uncertainty about delays or cancellations.”

Research by Private Jet Card Comparisons shows nearly 90% of private fliers toggle back and forth between the airlines and private skies based on factors that mainly revolve around saving time versus the extra costs.

Jets.com EVP Sales Vincent Kavanagh notes, “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.”

Magellan Jets President Anthony Tivnan adds, “We are receiving bookings already from impacted flight cancellations.”

Jet Linx Executive Chairman Jamie Walker believes the most significant bump is yet to come.

“This peak season is going to be much busier than forecasted for private aviation as commercial airlines struggle with the impact,” he says.

Both ARGUS and WingX reported record levels of demand in October.

Airport Frustration

FlyExclusive CEO Jim Segrave says flyer frustration is extending beyond the airlines.

FlyExclusive is the fifth-largest in the U.S.

“The first-place travelers are going to see it will be with TSA screening. If 20% of those people stop working, the lines will overwhelm airports completely,” he says.

Avoiding crowded airport terminals ranks as the second most popular reason flyers say they choose private skies, with FBOs preferred.

Segrave continues, “Since (private flights) do not need TSA screening, we think the issue will be initially confined to commercial travel and likely be limited to commercial as the resulting capacity cuts will take pressure off of ATC enough that even with a 30% staffing cut, they could still be able to handle it.”

No Panacea

Advice on what to expect and how to avoid disruptions from private aviation executives varies.

Aviation Portfolio CEO Craig Ross says floating fleet operators could face challenges ensuring pilots who fly to their duty aircraft on airlines get there amid increasing airline cancellations.

He adds that operators could also have issues getting parts to airplanes experiencing mechanical problems, since parts are sometimes shipped as cargo on airline flights.

Ross says, “The major floating fleet operators do plan for disruptions. We help the operators by implementing risk mitigation strategies that minimize frustration for our clients.”

Flexjet’s Collins says the fractional provider is prepared.

“We’re built for this,” he says.

He compares it to an extreme weather event.

Collins notes that private aviation allows users and operators to shift to nearby airports in many cases.

During COVID, Flexjet set up its own in-house ferry system to get pilots to the locations where they picked up their aircraft.

He said Flexjet already has a first-day buffer for pilots on duty rotations in case there are airline delays.

It is also set up to ferry parts to airplanes that need repairs away from base, should that be the case.

Alternative Airports

Monarch Air Group CEO David Gitman says, “We strongly recommend to our clients to avoid the 40 airports listed by the FAA, as well as, when possible, congested metro areas.”

He adds, “Flights into smaller private airports are not affected as much as the major ones.”

FlyUSA CEO Barry Shevlin says the company has been recommending using alternative airports, such as Morristown, instead of Teterboro.

FlyUSA Chief Revenue Officer Duncan Jones adds:

‘Communication and flexibility (are key). Private aviation allows customers to work outside the hub-and-spoke model of airlines to provide the best point-to-point travel within the constrained FAA system.  With clear communications of the trip’s objectives and timing, options can be presented.’

“For any Wheels Up flights scheduled to depart from one of the affected airports, our operations team is handling all necessary adjustments to move itineraries to the nearest suitable airport at no additional cost to our fliers,” a spokesperson tells Private Jet Card Comparisons.

NBAA’s Williams notes, “There is a good likelihood that satellite airports will also feel the impacts of this reduction.”

She adds, “We’re sharing similar routes, arrival and departure procedures, and corridors.”

Private Jet Charter Pricing

Ironbird Partners Dan Harris says, “The main reason travelers should switch to private now instead of waiting is supply and demand.”

Harris adds, “The farther out you book, the more aircraft are available and better positioned — meaning lower prices and more choice.”

He cautions, “When you wait until the day of travel, you’re competing for whatever aircraft are still open, which are normally the higher price or lower quality aircraft.”

Harris says, “That alone can add 20–30% to the total.”

He says the longer you wait, the more likely a provider will try to take advantage of your flight needs by increasing pricing.”

Elevate Aviation Group Chairman Greg Raiff says customers with fractional and guaranteed jet card programs should consider booking Thanksgiving flights as ad hoc charter flights.

“When you are running four or five legs a day and your fleet is already stretched, it’s a recipe for problems,” Raiff says.

He adds that if the government makes deeper cuts, programmatic members could see their providers invoking Force Majeure to delay or cancel flights.

Raiff recommends spending the extra money to have the airplane and crew positioned at your airport the night before your flight.

He also says getting an early start – before the cutback hours – or landing late – after the daily curb – could be a smart strategy.

No Safe Haven

Despite all the steps providers are taking and the various pieces of advice, there will likely be disruptions for private flyers.

Outlier Jets CEO Mike Farley says, “The FAA’s flight reductions won’t ground private jets, but they will tighten the system.”

He expects “Delays and reroutes are likely, especially Northeast to Southeast.”

Magellan’s Tivnan adds, “It doesn’t matter what plane you’re flying. ATC staffing affects everyone. A prolonged government shutdown impacts the entire aviation ecosystem.”

Before the FAA’s move, Tivnan says, “We have seen increasing delays due to staffing shortages and capacity limitations. ATC is slowing things down to make sure operations remain safe and controlled.”

Jets.com’s Kavanagh agrees.

He says, “We are seeing extended taxi times, occasional rerouting, and adjusted departure slots.”

Kavanagh adds, “We have established a task force team with our scheduling department to counteract and pivot in real time and future bookings, to reduce any impact to our clients.”

Flight providers are likely to be again pressed when something goes wrong.

Back in 2023, as the industry was still coping with the COVID demand surge, 24.1% of program members cited poor communication when things went wrong as a reason for switching companies.

In the most recent survey conducted this summer, that number had dropped to 14.4%.

Likewise, those citing delays, schedule changes, and cancellations dropped to 26.8% from 37.8%.

Program flyers who experienced delays or service letdowns are 33% more likely to consider changing flight providers, according to the research.

Still, the industry believes there is an opportunity to capture new flyers.

The Wheels Up spokesperson says, “With holiday travel season fast approaching and no set timeline for loosening of the FAA restrictions, flying private can help fliers avoid commercial cancellations and delays.”

 Airports Impacted By FAA Reductions

Source: Federal Aviation Administration. Bold airports are among the 25 busiest private jet airports.