FAA-required flight cancellations to intensify next week if shutdown persists

On Saturday, over 5,000 flights in the U.S. faced delays due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, and airlines in the country may need to reduce hundreds of additional flights next week if Congress fails to find a solution to the ongoing government shutdown, which is now the longest in U.S. history.

This week, officials from the Trump administration directed airlines to begin reducing flights at 40 major U.S. airports on Friday, attributing it to “increased reports of strain on the system from both pilots and air traffic controllers,” largely as a result of the shutdown.

Late Friday, Senate Republicans dismissed a proposal from Democrats to reopen the government.

Air traffic controllers, along with airport security personnel, are mandated to work during the shutdown without receiving their usual salaries. According to their union, federal employees will miss their second full paycheck on Monday. Union officials have reported that some controllers have taken on additional jobs to make ends meet.

As of 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, approximately 1,650 U.S. flights were canceled, which is about half the number initially reported by airlines that had 21,748 flights scheduled for the day. This cancellation rate was comparable to severe thunderstorms, which can be disruptive but are generally routine. Cirium noted that Friday was the 72nd worst day for cancellations since January 1, 2024.

Under the FAA’s directive, the flight reductions will rise to 6% of schedules, 8% by Thursday, and 10% by next Friday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy informed Fox News on Friday that cuts could eventually reach as high as 20% of schedules, without going into detail. Airlines were not mandated to reduce international flights.

The disruptions are occurring during a typically low travel period, but the critical Thanksgiving holiday weekend is less than three weeks away. According to Daniel McKenzie, an airline analyst at Seaport Research Partners, the impact on airlines could quadruple due to the surge in fares during this high-demand season.

This week, airlines eliminated date-change fees for travelers on impacted flights and informed them that they can also ask for a refund. Airline executives mentioned that many passengers were being rebooked on alternate flights, while last-minute changes forced others to seek other accommodations. For instance, Hertz noted on Thursday that, following the FAA’s flight-cut announcement, one-way car rentals surged by 20% compared to the same two-day interval from the previous year.

Delays escalated throughout Saturday, with more than 5,400 flights in the U.S. running late, as per FlightAware. The staffing shortages in air traffic control led to delays at airports including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, San Francisco International, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Newark Liberty International in New Jersey, George Bush Intercontinental in Houston, and Chicago O’Hare International.

Here are the airports affected by the FAA and DOT cuts: