Flight Cancellations Spike Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

Mon Nov 10 2025 21:58:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Over 1,000 flights were canceled as U.S. airports face unprecedented reductions in air traffic due to the ongoing government shutdown, affecting thousands of travelers.

In the wake of the U.S. government shutdown, airlines have canceled over 1,000 flights and delayed nearly 4,000, as air traffic controllers voice concerns over fatigue from working without pay. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated it would reduce traffic capacity by 10% at 40 major airports, which include Newark Liberty and Chicago O'Hare, leading to significantly long wait times and travel disruptions ahead of the busy Thanksgiving season.

More than 1,000 flights to, from, or within the U.S. were canceled on Saturday after airlines were instructed to cut traffic during the ongoing federal government shutdown. Nearly 4,000 flights were also delayed, a slight improvement from the more than 7,000 delays reported on Friday, according to flight tracker FlightAware.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced earlier this week a reduction in air travel capacity of up to 10% at 40 of the busiest airports in the nation. These cuts are in response to reports of overworked and fatigued air traffic controllers, many of whom are required to work without pay during the shutdown.

Amid the prolonged shutdown, which began on October 1, negotiations between Republicans and Democrats have stalled, keeping the impasse unresolved. New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport has been experiencing some of the longest wait times, with arrivals delayed by an average of over four hours as of Saturday afternoon.

The airports that have seen the most cancellations this past weekend include Charlotte/Douglas International, Newark Liberty, and Chicago O'Hare, according to FlightAware data. Departures from major airports such as John F. Kennedy, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, and LaGuardia have also faced significant delays.

As Thanksgiving approaches, which marks one of the busiest travel seasons in the U.S., the situation is expected to worsen. The FAA has already announced a gradual increase in flight reductions, which will peak at the full 10% by November 14th.

In addition to commercial flights, restrictions on private jets have also been implemented, as Secretary Duffy indicated that private aviation traffic will be diverted to smaller airports to alleviate pressure on busy air traffic controllers.

The FAA states that these reductions are critical for maintaining safety, as controllers face increasing workloads during the shutdown. Many of the controllers are part of 1.4 million federal employees either working without pay or on leave.

As of Saturday, the shutdown marked its 39th day, making it the longest in U.S. history, with bipartisan efforts in the Senate ongoing to resolve the funding crisis.