700 Flights Cancelled With Continued Shutdown

On Friday, U.S. airlines began canceling hundreds of flights after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a phased reduction in domestic flight capacity due to a worsening air traffic controller staffing crisis linked to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The order, which took effect November 7, mandates cuts rising from 4 percent to 10 percent over the coming week across 40 major U.S. airports, including Atlanta (Hartsfield-Jackson), New York (JFK, LGA, EWR), Chicago (O’Hare and Midway), Los Angeles (LAX), Denver, Houston, and San Francisco. The FAA said the measure is essential to “maintain the highest level of safety” as many controllers have gone more than a month without pay. Administrator Bryan Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the agency would rather slow air traffic deliberately than risk fatigue-related errors.

By 9 a.m. ET Friday, more than 700 flights (≈ 3 percent of the day’s schedule) were canceled, according to Cirium data — roughly equivalent to the impact of a major weather event. The Department of Transportation warned that the figure could escalate as the 10 percent cap takes hold by November 14. Delays were concentrated at Newark, San Francisco, and Atlanta, with ripple effects spreading throughout the national airspace system.

Airlines were forced to rewrite schedules on short notice to reposition aircraft and crews. American Airlines canceled about 221 flights (out of 6,200), mainly trimming frequency on shorter-haul routes. CEO Robert Isom said the carrier was “frustrated” by the reductions but sought to minimize customer impact by protecting high-demand markets and longer routes. United and Delta said international and hub-to-hub flights would continue largely unaffected. Low-cost carriers, reliant on point-to-point domestic flying, faced greater strain.

The cancellations come amid the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, with no federal budget resolution after more than five weeks. The FAA’s contingency move — previously unprecedented in scale — is expected to cost airlines tens of millions in lost revenue and passenger compensation. Analyst Scott Group of Wolfe Research said the flight shortage could temporarily lift ticket yields as travelers compete for fewer seats, but overall demand may fall if uncertainty persists.

The disruption is hitting during a seasonally slower travel period before the Thanksgiving rush, offering a small cushion, yet travel agencies and rental-car firms report spikes in bookings: Hertz said one-way rentals jumped 20 percent in 48 hours. At major airports like Chicago O’Hare and Denver, security-line congestion and longer layovers have returned to near-holiday levels.

International flights remain exempt from the cuts, but global carriers warn of knock-on effects: limited gate access, ground delays for connecting passengers, and cargo backlog at hubs such as JFK, ORD, and LAX. Foreign airlines that rely on U.S. connecting traffic — particularly from Canada and Europe — are preparing for missed transfers and potential schedule slippage into mid-November.

Travel experts urge passengers to use airline apps, arrive early, avoid checked luggage, and stay flexible. Insurance providers note that shutdown-related cancellations may not always qualify for reimbursement, depending on policy language.

Projections

• Short-term: Expect daily cancellations to exceed 1,000 flights nationwide by next week if staffing levels remain static. Cargo logistics may slow at UPS, FedEx, and Amazon hubs.
• Medium-term: Should the shutdown continue into the holiday period, analysts foresee possible 15–20 percent system slowdowns and higher fares due to constrained capacity.
• Long-term: The event highlights the fragility of U.S. air-traffic staffing. Congress may face renewed pressure to create automatic funding mechanisms for FAA payroll and modernization to prevent shutdown-related disruptions.

References

• CNBC: “Airlines cancel hundreds of flights as FAA orders reductions amid shutdown.” (Nov 7 2025)
• Reuters: “FAA orders 10% U.S. flight capacity cut; cancellations mount.”
• Associated Press: “Airlines slash schedules as controller shortages worsen.”
• Bloomberg News: “FAA cuts to strain U.S. air system; carriers brace for losses.”
• Cirium Data Monitor: Daily U.S. Flight Cancellations Index (Nov 7 2025)
• Wolfe Research Note: “Shutdown impact on airlines: near-term yield lift, long-term demand risk.”