US airlines cancel more than 2,500 weekend flights largely due to government shutdown

U.S. airlines have canceled more than 2,500 weekend flights as of Saturday evening, a direct result of the Federal Aviation Administration’s mandate to reduce air traffic amid the ongoing government shutdown. The slowdown, affecting many of the nation’s busiest airports, has yet to cause widespread disruption but has deepened the impact of what has become the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history.

“We all travel. We all have somewhere to be,” said Emmy Holguin, 36, who was flying from Miami to visit family in the Dominican Republic. “I’m hoping that the government can take care of this.”

Industry analysts warn that disruptions will intensify and extend far beyond air travel if cancellations continue to mount, potentially affecting the busy Thanksgiving travel season. Concerns are already growing about impacts on tourism destinations and holiday shipping operations.

Cancellations jumped significantly on Saturday—typically a slower travel day—with more than 1,500 flights scrubbed, following just over 1,000 cancellations the previous day, according to tracking website FlightAware. By Saturday evening, airlines had already canceled more than 1,000 additional flights scheduled for Sunday.

Atlanta and Chicago airports, along with facilities in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Newark, New Jersey, experienced numerous disruptions throughout the day. Ongoing staffing shortages in radar centers and control towers compounded issues at several East Coast airports, particularly those serving the New York metropolitan area.

While not all cancellations stem directly from the FAA order, they represent a growing portion of overall U.S. flights. The FAA stated that flight reductions affecting all commercial airlines began at 4% across 40 targeted airports, with plans to increase the reduction rate to 10% by Friday after an intermediate increase on Tuesday.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned this week that even more cuts might be necessary if the shutdown continues and air traffic controller absences increase.

The root cause of these disruptions lies with the air traffic controllers who have gone without paychecks for nearly a month during the shutdown. Many have called in sick, exacerbating existing staffing shortages within the system. Most controllers are currently working mandatory overtime six days per week without pay, and some have taken second jobs to meet financial obligations, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

The union reported Saturday that it had delivered 1,600 handwritten letters from members to Congress, urging lawmakers to end the shutdown.

So far, passengers have experienced mixed impacts. Many were relieved that airlines largely maintained their schedules on Friday, and those whose flights were canceled generally received prompt rebooking assistance. Longer international flights have remained largely unaffected thus far.

However, uncertainty persists about which flights will be canceled next, creating anxiety among travelers. Not everyone has the financial flexibility to cover unexpected hotel costs or manage last-minute disruptions.

“Travel is stressful enough. Then you put these disruptions in place, and it really makes everything more challenging,” said Heather Xu, 46, who was in Miami on Saturday after a cruise, preparing to fly home to Puerto Rico.

Rental car companies reported a sharp increase in one-way reservations on Friday as some travelers opted for ground transportation alternatives. Others chose to cancel their travel plans entirely.

Diana Alvear of Bridgewater, New Jersey, canceled her family’s trip to California next weekend due to concerns about flying when controllers are overworked and facilities understaffed. She also worried about being stranded, which would create significant work complications. While United Airlines provided credit for the airfare, her family still lost nearly $700 on an Airbnb deposit.

“This has been costly to us, and it’s a huge disappointment for us and our family,” Alvear said. “It’s really weighing on our hearts that we had to do this.”

The impacts could extend far beyond passenger travel. Nearly half of U.S. air freight is transported in the bellies of passenger aircraft, raising concerns about supply chain disruptions. Major flight cancellations could lead to higher shipping costs that eventually get passed on to consumers, according to Patrick Penfield, professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University.

If the slowdown persists, economic losses will ripple through multiple sectors, from tourism to manufacturing, warned Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group.

“This shutdown is going to impact everything from cargo aircraft to people getting to business meetings to tourists being able to travel,” Raiff said. “It’s going to hit the hotel taxes and city taxes. There’s a cascading effect that results from this thing.”