WYDOT: FAA Flight Cuts Hitting Big Hubs, Not Wyoming Airports

The original story by Nick Perkins for Cap City News.

Wyoming travelers can relax a bit: those national headlines about flight cuts at major airports aren’t really touching the Cowboy State.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) says commercial air service in Wyoming has stayed “largely stable” despite a Federal Aviation Administration–ordered 6% reduction in flight capacity at some of the country’s busiest hubs.

In a news release, WYDOT said travelers can confidently book flights to and from Wyoming as federal operations ramp back up during the government’s reopening.

The FAA originally floated a 10% reduction plan affecting multiple large airports, including Denver International Airport, which is Wyoming’s main connecting hub.

Even so, the impact on Wyoming has been much smaller than expected. WYDOT credits that to close coordination between:

• Wyoming airports;
• WYDOT’s Air Service Development program;
• Airline partners like SkyWest and United Airlines.

The timing of WYDOT’s reassurance comes just a week after United canceled flights to and from Casper over the weekend of Nov. 7–9. Other than those disruptions, cancellations have been rare.

“Casper and Jackson have seen occasional single mid-day cancellations since the FAA’s announcement, but most other Wyoming airports have seen zero cancellations, including those operating under the state’s Capacity Purchase Agreement,” said Mariah Johnson, Air Service Development program manager for WYDOT.

Johnson pointed out that regional carriers like SkyWest — which flies most of Wyoming’s United Express routes — are typically hit hardest when airlines trim schedules nationwide.

“This time, flights to Wyoming have been incredibly reliable,” she said. “Given the national environment, this is a testament to the coordination and commitment of our airline partners to Wyoming.”

As the federal government returns to normal operations, WYDOT says Wyoming travelers should expect regular airline schedules to hold through the holidays, weather permitting.

In fact, the state’s airports are on track to offer the highest airline seat capacity ever for a holiday season, with more than 282,000 seats available across November and December.

“2024 was a record year for Wyoming air travel, and 2025 is shaping up to be even better,” Johnson added.

Bottom line: while big hubs around the country are adjusting to FAA-mandated cuts, Wyoming’s skies are staying surprisingly steady.