US airlines cancelled more than 1,300 flights on Saturday amid a federal government shutdown that has strained air traffic control staffing. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a 4% reduction in flights at 40 major airports starting Friday due to safety concerns from controller shortages. Further cuts are expected next week as absenteeism rises.
The US government shutdown, now in its 39th day since beginning on October 1, 2025, has severely impacted air travel. On Friday, November 7, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instructed airlines to reduce daily flights by 4% at 40 major airports starting at 6 a.m. ET, citing air traffic control safety concerns from unpaid staff shortages. This led to 1,025 cancellations and 7,000 delays that day, including about 700 flights from major carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.
Saturday, November 8, marked the second day of these mandated cuts, with airlines cancelling between 1,330 and 1,460 flights, according to reports from The Hindu and The Indian Express. Delays affected nearly 4,000 to 5,450 flights, down slightly from Friday but still widespread. The FAA reported staffing issues at 25 airports and centers, causing disruptions in at least 12 major cities, including Atlanta, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Charlotte, and Denver. In Charlotte, 130 arriving and departing flights were cancelled in the afternoon. Atlanta, one of the busiest airports, faced ground delay programs with average waits of 337 minutes.
Air traffic controller shortages stem from the shutdown, under which 13,000 controllers and 50,000 security screeners are working without pay, leading to increased absenteeism. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated earlier this week that 20% to 40% of controllers have not shown up for work in recent days. Many were notified on Thursday, November 6, of no compensation for a second consecutive pay period.
Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican chairing the Senate Commerce Committee, blamed the shutdown during a Friday debate, noting over 500 voluntary safety reports from pilots on controller mistakes due to fatigue. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of potential 20% air traffic cuts if absences worsen, saying, “I assess the data. We’re going to make decisions based on what we see in the airspace.”
The Trump administration is using air traffic issues to push for a 'clean' funding bill without conditions, while Democrats accuse Republicans of refusing to negotiate on expiring health insurance subsidies. Flight reductions are set to increase to 6% on Tuesday, November 11, and 10% by November 14, bracing the industry for more disruptions.
