Thousands of flights delayed as FAA cuts snarl major airports
The FAA-mandated flight cancellations will ramp up to 10% by Nov. 14.
What we know
- More than 5,000 flights have been delayed and 1,100 canceled as reductions went into effect Friday at 40 high-traffic airports, in what officials say is an attempt to relieve pressure amid the record-long government shutdown.
- The FAA-mandated flight cancellations mean a 4% reduction this weekend. It will ramp up to 6% by Nov. 11, 8% by Nov. 13, and up to 10% by Nov. 14.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said that the end of the government shutdown would not immediately restore air traffic controllers because it will take time for them all to return to work.
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Travelers in Miami left frustrated amid flight cancellations
Travelers at Miami International Airport express frustration after more than 1,000 flights were canceled and over 5,000 delayed.
“I’m a little worried,” said one woman traveling to the Dominical Republic to visit family. The FAA-mandated flight cancellations could lead to a 10% reduction by Nov. 14.
Flight delays surpass 5,000
Over 5,000 flights traveling into, out of and within the U.S. have been delayed as of this evening, according to FlightAware.com.
More than 1,100 flights have also been canceled.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is in the lead with almost 600 flights delayed and over 150 canceled. Charlotte Douglas International Airport is in close second, with almost 400 delays and over 130 cancellations.
In terms of airlines, SkyWest has canceled 188 flights and delayed 241 so far today, while Delta Air Lines has canceled 114 and delayed 748.
Over 5-hour ground delays at Atlanta and Newark airports due to staffing
Departures to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport are delayed by over five hours, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Departures from the Newark airport are delayed by over two hours as well.
Also due to staffing, flights to John F. Kennedy International Airport are delayed by almost three hours, while flights leaving the airport are delayed by almost two hours, according to the FAA.
Over 1,000 flights canceled, 4,200 delayed
Over 1,000 flights traveling into, out of, or within the U.S. have been canceled as of 3:00 p.m. ET today, according to FlightAware.com.
More than 4,200 flights have been delayed.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport has had the most cancellations so far, with over 130 canceled flights. The airport has also had over 360 delayed flights.
Newark Liberty International Airport is in close second, with 109 cancellations and 322 delays.
Ground stop at Nashville International Airport due to staffing
A ground stop has been issued at Nashville International Airport due to staffing, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Flights traveling to the airport have been grounded until 3:45 p.m. ET, with a 30% to 60% chance that it will be extended.
What to know about the flight cancellations at U.S. airports
Hundreds of flights at the busiest airports in the U.S. are being scratched this weekend as airlines move forward with reducing air service due to the lingering government shutdown.
So far, the Federal Aviation Administration’s mandated slowdown across the airline industry that began Friday hasn’t caused any widespread disruptions. But it has widened the impact of what’s now the nation’s longest federal shutdown.
“We all travel. We all have somewhere to be,” said Emmy Holguin, 36, who was flying out of Miami Saturday to visit family in the Dominican Republic for the week. “I’m hoping that the government can take care of this.”
Analysts warn that the upheaval will intensify and be felt far beyond air travel if the cancellations pick up and move closer to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Already there are concerns about the impact on cities and businesses that rely on tourism and the possibility of shipping interruptions that could delay getting holiday items on store shelves.
Here’s what to know about the flight reductions:
How many flights have been canceled?
The first day of the Federal Aviation Administration’s slowdown saw more than 1,000 flights canceled, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flight disruptions.
Nearly 900 were off for Saturday — typically a slow travel day. The airport serving Charlotte, North Carolina, was by far the hardest hit with 120 arriving and departing flights canceled by midday.
Airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, and Orlando, Florida, were among the most disrupted. Staffing shortages in Charlotte and Newark, New Jersey, were slowing traffic too.
Not all the cancellations were due to the FAA order, and those numbers represent just a small portion of the overall flights nationwide, but they are certain to rise in the coming days if the slowdown continues.
The FAA said the reductions impacting all commercial airlines are starting at 4% of flights at 40 targeted airports and will be bumped up again on Tuesday before hitting 10% of flights on Friday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned this week that even more flight cuts might be needed if the government shutdown continues and more air traffic controllers are off the job.
Why are the flights being canceled?
Air traffic controllers have gone without paychecks for nearly a month as the shutdown continues, leading many to call in sick and add to already existing staffing shortages.
Most controllers are working mandatory overtime six days a week during the shutdown without pay, and some are taking second jobs to pay their bills, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association has said.
How are passengers being affected?
Most were relieved to find that airlines largely stayed on schedule Friday, and those whose flights were called off were able to quickly rebook. So far, longer international flights haven’t been interrupted.
There’s still a lot of uncertainty about what flights will be canceled next.
And not everyone has the means to pay for a hotel or deal with a last-minute disruption, said Heather Xu, 46, who was in Miami on Saturday after a cruise and flying home to Puerto Rico.
“Travel is stressful enough, then you put these disruptions in place and it really makes everything more challenging,” she said.
Rental car companies reported a sharp increase in one-way reservations Friday, and some people are simply canceling flights altogether.
Private jets not immune to restrictions, Duffy says
Restrictions on private jets "are already in place," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this afternoon.
"We’ve reduced their volume at high traffic airports — instead having private jets utilize smaller airports or airfields so busy controllers can focus on commercial aviation," he wrote on X. "That’s only fair."
Duffy added that jets used for emergencies, law enforcement and medical transport will be prioritized.
Hourslong delays at Newark Liberty International and John F. Kennedy International airports due to staffing
Departures to Newark Liberty International Airport are delayed for over four hours due to staffing, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Departures heading to John F. Kennedy International Airport are delayed by almost three hours, also due to staffing.
Travelers at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Nov. 7. Lokman Vural Elibol / Anadolu via Getty Images
Ground stop issued at Chicago O'Hare International Airport due to staffing
A ground stop was issued at Chicago O'Hare International Airport due to staffing, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Departures to the airport have been grounded as a result, and departures from the airport are also delayed by about 15 minutes.
The ground stop went into effect at 12:24 p.m. ET is expected to persist until 1:45 p.m. ET.
Over 3,300 flights delayed and 900 canceled
Over 3,300 flights traveling to, from and within the U.S. have been delayed and 914 were canceled as of this afternoon, according to FlightAware.com.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport remains in the lead with over 300 delays and almost 130 cancellations. Chicago O'Hare International Airport follows closely behind with 280 delays and 83 cancelations.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport has had 189 delays and 56 cancellations, while John F. Kennedy International Airport has almost 300 delays and 50 cancellations, per FlightAware.com
Travelers out of Chicago airport on edge as flight reductions and government shutdown persist
Concerned about long security lines and flight cancellations, Rubina Hundal arrived to Chicago O’Hare International Airport very early for her flight this morning.
"I'm like super stressed if I'm gonna make it to my flight, because the lines seem to be super long," Hundal told NBC News. "And every time I get an email from an airline saying, 'Oh, my God, we're really sorry,' and I'm like, please don't cancel my flight."
Travelers wait in line at a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport on Nov. 7. Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP - Getty Images
Hundal, who is Indian and lived in Canada prior to moving to Chicago, said the disruption of federal benefits for many seemed "absurd" to her.
"I just feel like, even the greatest economy on Earth is not immune to being indifferent about the lives of their people," Hundal said. "And that's actually kind of sad for me when I think about it, because beyond my flight delay, is just a blip in front of people who don't, who aren't getting their SNAP benefits, or people who are not getting paid, or who are getting furloughed."
Ilyse Strongin, who is traveling to Mexico for a spa retreat, also spoke about what the shutdown has meant government workers, including air traffic controllers, who are not getting paid to do their jobs.
"That's so unfair," Strongin said. "How can they tell their government employees to work and not get paid?"
Mike Arenson said the shutdown's impact on air traffic controllers poses a safety concern for him.
"Just, these people are doing their jobs, they're not getting paid," he said. "How would you do at your job without getting paid?"
Duffy previously said flight delays and cancellations are ways to ensure safety.
“But with this shutdown, it would be dishonest to say that more risk is not injected into the system,” he said. “There is more risk in the system.”
Hawaii asks for exemption from flight cuts due to its 'unique reliance on air travel'
Hawaii's Department of Transportation (HDOT) has sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy requesting an exemption from the mandated flight cuts, "citing the state's unique reliance on air travel," according to a statement.
The reasons HDOT gave for the state's reliance on air travel include its economic stability, medical service accessibility, "cargo movement and food security," and "national defense and military family support."
HDOT said it is awaiting a response to its request and advised travelers to check their flight status before leaving for airports.
Ground stop at LaGuardia Airport due to staffing
A ground stop has been issued at New York's LaGuardia Airport this morning due to staffing, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Over 170 flights traveling into and out of the airport have been delayed and almost 40 have been canceled, per FlightAware.com.
Delays at airports across the U.S. due to staffing
Ground delays at airports across the U.S. are persisting today due to staffing issues.
A traveler at Newark Liberty International Airport on Nov. 7. timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images
Departures to Newark Liberty International Airport are delayed by over two hours, while Charlotte Douglas International Airport has a more than one-hour delay, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Departures from John F. Kennedy International Airport are delayed about 45 minutes, while Miami International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport all have 15 minute delays.
Over 2,000 flights delayed and 870 canceled
As of this morning, over 2,000 flights traveling to, from and within the U.S. have been delayed and 877 were canceled, according to FlightAware.com.
In the lead is Charlotte Douglas International Airport with over 250 delays and 130 cancelations. Orlando International Airport follows closely behind with over 200 delays and 40 cancelations.
Airlines scramble to rebook passengers
More than 1,000 flights were called off nationwide Friday — five times the number canceled Thursday, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flight disruptions.
Reagan National Airport was hit the hardest with at least 18% of its arrivals — 81 flights — canceled Friday. The major hubs of O’Hare, Atlanta, Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth rounded out the top five airports for cancellations, but those airports only lost around 3% of their flights.
A woman checks in for flight at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Nov. 7. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP - Getty Images
Not all the cancellations were due to the FAA order, and both United and American airlines said they were able to quickly rebook most travelers.
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.
Delta Air Lines said it scratched roughly 170 flights Friday while American planned to cut 220 each day through Monday. Southwest Airlines cut about 120 flights Friday.
The FAA said the reductions impacting all commercial airlines are starting at 4% of flights at the busiest airports and will ramp up to 10% over the coming week.
“I just don’t want to be stranded at the airport sleeping on a bench,” Michele Cuthbert, of Columbus, Ohio, said about an upcoming flight to Dallas. “Everyone’s paying the price for the politics that’s going on. We’re just collateral damage.”
If the shutdown continues, there may be another knock-on effect ahead of the holidays.
Nearly half of all U.S. air freight is shipped in the bellies of passenger aircraft, so the disruption could raise costs for shipping goods, said Patrick Penfield, professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University.
“Air travel is part of the infrastructure backbone of the American economy,” said Greg Raiff, CEO of the Elevate Aviation Group consultancy. “This shutdown is going to impact everything from cargo aircraft to people getting to business meetings to tourists being able to travel.”
No matter what happens with shutdown, holiday headaches are likely
Flying anywhere for the Thanksgiving holiday is likely to be tortuous for legions of travelers — even if the government shutdown ends today, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned today.
Hundreds of flights during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year could be affected by staffing shortages of air traffic controllers. The shortages have been exacerbated by the shutdown, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to implement unprecedented flight reductions.
And those staff shortages — at least for now — appear to be set in stone for Thanksgiving, Duffy said.
“So if the government opens on Day 1, will I see an immediate response from controllers? No, the union is telling me it’s going to take time to get them all back in,” Duffy told CNN today when asked if the flight reductions would spill into the holiday.
Government shutdown is longest in history
The partial government shutdown is the longest shutdown in U.S. history, with air traffic controllers among those employees working without pay.
The record as the nation’s longest was broken Wednesday, on the 36th day of the shutdown that began on Oct. 1.
Before that, the longest government shutdown was a 35-day shutdown from Dec. 22, 2018, until Jan. 25, 2019. That stemmed from a fight over funding for President Donald Trump’s border wall.
This shutdown is over health insurance subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans, which without action will expire at the end of the year and raise costs for consumers.
Senate Democrats want the subsidies and talks on other issues, and Republicans have refused to extend the subsidies as part of continuing to fund the government and are calling for a “clean” resolution.