NBAA Urges End to Shutdown as FAA Restricts Bizav at Major U.S. Airports

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is warning business-aviation operators of new federal restrictions that will curtail general aviation access at 12 major U.S. airports beginning at midnight EST, as the federal government shutdown continues to disrupt flight operations nationwide.

According to NBAA, the FAA will publish individual NOTAMs limiting general aviation activity at the following airports:

• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Denver International Airport (DEN)
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
• Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Exceptions will apply for based aircraft, emergency and medical services, law-enforcement, firefighting and military flights, or when specifically authorized by the FAA. The association cautioned that operators may face additional delays and potential limits at any of the 40 airports previously identified under an FAA emergency order or affected by reduced air-traffic-control staffing.

NBAA said it is sharing operational updates from the FAA via NOTAM resources and through its government-shutdown information channels.

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said the new measures “will effectively prohibit business aviation operations at 12 of those airports, disproportionately impacting general aviation,” which he noted supports more than one million jobs and contributes an estimated $340 billion in U.S. economic activity.

“Safety is the cornerstone of business aviation, and NBAA is fully committed to ensuring the safety of the NAS,” Bolen said, adding that the association will continue helping operators understand the restrictions and their operational implications.

Bolen repeated industry calls for an immediate end to the shutdown. “Above all, this moment underscores the need to reopen the government to serve all Americans,” he said. “NBAA stands with the rest of the aviation community in calling upon Congress to end the shutdown immediately, and for the NOTAMs to be repealed when the government reopens.”

NBAA is working with the Modern Skies coalition and other aviation groups urging congressional action.