The Latest: Hundreds of flights canceled nationwide due to government shutdown

Flight Reductions Ripple Through U.S. Air Travel as Shutdown Stretches On

The Federal Aviation Administration’s unprecedented order to scale back flights nationwide took effect Friday morning, causing disruptions for travelers as airlines began canceling approximately 1,000 flights. The restrictions, necessitated by the record-long government shutdown, are adding pressure to an already strained air traffic control system.

The FAA’s directive requires airlines to reduce flights at 40 airports spanning more than two dozen states. The cuts began at 4% and will gradually increase to 10% by November 14, affecting all commercial carriers during peak hours between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

American Airlines has already identified roughly 220 daily flights it will cancel through Monday, according to Chief Operating Officer David Seymour. “We’re going to notify all of our customers if their flight is disrupted,” he told the Associated Press, adding that passengers who haven’t received notifications can expect their flights to proceed as scheduled.

Airports in major hubs including Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and Dallas experienced the most significant disruptions on Friday, with long security lines compounding travelers’ frustrations. Industry experts warn the situation could deteriorate further in the coming weeks, particularly as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that additional flight restrictions might become necessary if the shutdown continues. “If this shutdown doesn’t end relatively soon, the consequence of that is going to be more controllers don’t come to work,” Duffy said. “And then we’re going to have to continue to assess the pressure in the air space and make decisions that may again move us from 10% to 15%, maybe to 20. I don’t want to see that.”

The flight reductions stem from mounting pressure on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay for more than a month. Many controllers are working mandatory overtime with six-day weeks, and an increasing number have begun calling out as financial strain and exhaustion take their toll. The situation is expected to worsen after controllers miss another paycheck next Tuesday.

Some travelers are seeking alternative transportation methods to avoid flight disruptions. Jonathan Welle, 39, opted for an 11-hour train journey from Cleveland to Washington D.C. for a work trip. When he attempted to fly home, both his original flight and a rebooked alternative were canceled.

“I realized that if I had just taken the train at the original time I would have been home sooner, more reliably,” Welle said. The experience has caused him to reconsider an upcoming honeymoon trip to Vietnam.

The U.S. Postal Service also reported “slight impacts to mail transportation due to the recent capacity cuts.” While the USPS primarily relies on ground transportation, it does contract with private air cargo and passenger airlines for some mail delivery. Kim Frum, a senior public relations representative for the agency, said they are “working closely with our air partners to monitor the situation and are able to adjust transportation schedules as needed.”

The aviation disruptions represent just one facet of the widespread impacts from the government shutdown, which has become the longest in U.S. history. Veterans Day celebrations across the country have been canceled or scaled back, including a traditional flag-placing ceremony at Riverside National Cemetery in California, due to lack of access to essential resources like restrooms and traffic control.

The shutdown has also created uncertainty around food assistance programs. An ongoing court battle over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments, which serve approximately one in eight Americans, has reached the Supreme Court. The Trump administration has sought emergency relief after a federal appeals court left in place an order requiring full SNAP benefits for November, despite the government’s plan to provide only partial payments during the shutdown.

As political tensions continue to simmer, Senate Majority Leader John Thune rejected Democratic leader Chuck Schumer’s proposal to reopen the government while extending health care subsidies for Affordable Care Act coverage. Thune dismissed the offer as “a nonstarter,” insisting that health care negotiations should occur only after government funding is restored.

With no immediate resolution in sight, the effects of the shutdown continue to cascade through transportation networks, federal services, and social safety nets, creating mounting pressure on both sides of the political aisle to find a path forward.