More than 1,100 flights across the United States were canceled on Saturday, with over 5,000 others delayed, as the ongoing federal government shutdown forces the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to scale back air traffic capacity at major airports.
The FAA announced earlier this week that it would reduce air travel operations by up to 10 percent at 40 of the country’s busiest airports. The decision follows increasing reports of fatigue among air traffic controllers, who are continuing to work without pay during the shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford described the move as a proactive effort to maintain safety in American airspace.
The shutdown, now in its 40th day as of Sunday November 9, has become the longest in US history, surpassing the previous record of 35 days set during President Donald Trump’s first term in 2018 and 2019. Lawmakers remain at a political stalemate over a funding agreement to reopen government agencies, with Senate Republicans rejecting a Democratic proposal on Saturday to end the shutdown in exchange for a one year extension of government funding.
The shutdown began on October 1 after opposing sides in the US Senate failed to agree on spending priorities, with Republicans rejecting a push by Democrats to protect healthcare and other social programs, specifically the expiring subsidies for health insurance premiums purchased on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
Airlines and passengers are feeling significant impact from the disruptions. American Airlines issued a statement urging Congress to reach an immediate resolution as travel disruptions spread nationwide. American Airlines announced that the 4 percent reduction would mean 220 canceled flights per day through Monday, with the vast majority of impacted flights being regional services and no impact to international flights including Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean.
Newark Liberty International Airport recorded some of the worst delays on Saturday, with inbound flights facing wait times of more than five hours. Ground stops were temporarily issued at Chicago O’Hare, LaGuardia, and Nashville International Airports on Saturday due to staffing shortages. Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, John F. Kennedy International, and George Bush Intercontinental in Houston also experienced significant delays.
United Airlines, which operates 4,500 flights daily, canceled 184 flights Friday, 168 flights Saturday, 158 for Sunday and 190 for Monday. Delta Air Lines scratched roughly 170 flights Friday while Southwest Airlines cut about 120 flights. The airlines focused their cuts on smaller regional routes to airports where they have multiple flights a day, helping minimize the number of passengers impacted.
The FAA said the reductions would start at 4 percent and ramp up to 10 percent by November 14. They are to be in effect between 6 am and 10 pm and impact all commercial airlines. The order will increase to 6 percent of schedules by November 11, 8 percent by November 13, and up to 10 percent by November 14. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated that cuts could eventually reach up to 20 percent of schedules if the shutdown continues, though he did not elaborate on timing.
The disruption comes approximately two weeks before the busy Thanksgiving travel period. One air traffic controller warned that the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday season could see the worst day of travel in the history of flight if the shutdown does not end soon.
FAA officials said private jets are also being redirected to smaller airfields to reduce congestion and allow commercial aviation to operate more safely. The agency said it will also prohibit some visual flight rule approaches at facilities with staffing triggers, limit commercial space launches to non peak hours, and prohibit parachute operations and photo missions near facilities with staffing triggers.