United Airlines Offers Full Refunds for Shutdown-Period Flights Amid FAA Schedule Cuts

Chicago, IL – On Tuesday, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby announced in an internal memo that all customers with flights booked during the ongoing government shutdown are eligible for refunds, even for non-refundable and basic economy tickets, regardless of whether their flight is affected, per the memo obtained by CNBC.

The policy follows the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation (DOT)’s decision to reduce schedules at 40 domestic airports starting Friday, due to air traffic control staffing shortages on the shutdown’s 36th day—the longest in U.S. history.

Kirby stated, “[A]ny customer traveling during this period is eligible for a refund if they do not wish to fly—even if their flight isn’t impacted. That includes non-refundable tickets and those customers with basic economy tickets.”

He assured that “long-haul international flying and our hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted,” with reductions focused on “regional flying and domestic mainline flights that do not travel between our hubs.”

United will maintain approximately 4,000 daily flights through its mainline and United Express partners, using its app, website, and push notifications for updates and rebooking, per the memo. Customers can request refunds via united.com or the app.

The FAA’s schedule cuts, affecting airports like Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, and Dallas/Fort Worth, reduce departures by 10-15% to ensure safety amid understaffing, per FAA statement.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday, the reductions stem from “air traffic control safety concerns” and could be reversed if Democrats agree to reopen the government without ACA subsidy extensions.

The shutdown has left 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA agents working without pay, per the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and TSA union reports. Flight delays averaged 45 minutes nationally in October 2025, up 120% from 2024, per FlightAware.

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United’s policy could cost $150 million in refunds if 20% of bookings are canceled, per airline analyst estimates from Cowen. Rivals Delta and American followed with similar offers on November 6, 2025, per their websites.