United Airlines to offer refunds because of shutdown-caused flight restrictions
United Airlines customers with flights booked to travel during the government shutdown will be eligible for a refund, CEO Scott Kirby told employees in a memo on Wednesday.
The news came after the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation announced a reduction in schedules across 40 domestic airports, starting on Friday, as a result of the shutdown.
"[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," Kirby said in the memo.
He added that the airline's "long-haul international flying and our hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted by this schedule reduction direction from the FAA."
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, center, joined by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, speaks to reporters outside the White House on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Kirby, joined with Vance, Duffy and other members of the airlines industry for a roundtable discussion on the impacts of the government shutdown. Getty Images
"Instead, we will focus our schedule reductions on regional flying and domestic mainline flights that do not travel between our hubs," Kirby said, adding that the airline will utilize its app, website and push notifications to stay in touch with customers about flight changes and to offer rebooking options.
"Even with these schedule reductions, United and its United Express partners will still offer about 4,000 flights per day to fly our customers to their destinations," Kirby said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announces new airspace restrictions as the 36-day government shutdown creates FAA staffing shortages and flight delays on Nov. 5, 2025. Fox News
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on the shutdown's record 36th day the reduction was due to air traffic control safety concerns.
Duffy said the cuts could be reversed if Democrats agreed to reopen the government.
The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents to work without pay.
Reuters contributed to this report.
