Summary
Thousands of U.S. flights have been canceled amid the government shutdown after the FAA, facing staff shortages at air traffic control towers, asked airlines to reduce schedules by 10% at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports to preserve safety. The FAA and transportation officials cite missed paychecks and staffing strain as risks; reduced traffic is intended to ease pressure on controllers.
Which airports are affected
The FAA’s 10% reduction applies at these 40 airports:
1. Anchorage International (ANC)
2. Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson (ATL)
3. Boston Logan (BOS)
4. Baltimore/Washington (BWI)
5. Charlotte Douglas (CLT)
6. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG)
7. Dallas Love Field (DAL)
8. Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
9. Denver International (DEN)
10. Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
11. Detroit Metropolitan (DTW)
12. Newark Liberty (EWR)
13. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood (FLL)
14. Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye (HNL)
15. Houston Hobby (HOU)
16. Washington Dulles (IAD)
17. George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
18. Indianapolis International (IND)
19. New York JFK
20. Las Vegas Harry Reid (LAS)
21. Los Angeles International (LAX)
22. New York LaGuardia (LGA)
23. Orlando International (MCO)
24. Chicago Midway (MDW)
25. Memphis International (MEM)
26. Miami International (MIA)
27. Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP)
28. Oakland International (OAK)
29. Ontario International (ONT)
30. Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
31. Portland International (PDX)
32. Philadelphia International (PHL)
33. Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
34. San Diego International (SAN)
35. Louisville International (SDF)
36. Seattle–Tacoma (SEA)
37. San Francisco International (SFO)
38. Salt Lake City International (SLC)
39. Teterboro (TEB)
40. Tampa International (TPA)
How many flights have been canceled
The FAA directed airlines to start reductions on Friday, November 7; carriers may phase in to the full 10% cut. Initially, airlines trimmed roughly 6% of schedules at the affected airports through November 11. On November 9 there were about 2,631 canceled flights nationwide (about 10% of the national total), and by Monday afternoon more than 1,900 cancellations involved flights within, to, or from the U.S. Chicago O’Hare had the highest single-airport cancellations that day (over 230, roughly 17% of its operations). Nearly 1,000 flights were already canceled for the following Tuesday—about 4% of scheduled U.S. flights.
Routes most at risk
Most cuts concentrate on domestic routes, especially higher-frequency and regional services. Major carriers have said long-haul international flights will largely continue. United, Delta, Southwest, and Alaska have confirmed international routes won’t be broadly affected; United also said it will avoid canceling flights that connect its key hubs (Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles). Airlines are prioritizing service to smaller and remote communities and trimming redundant domestic frequencies so rebooking is simpler and disruption is minimized.
Airline actions and reported numbers
– United: Published cancellations through November 12 and focused reductions on regional routes; canceled 186 regional flights for November 10.
– Delta: Reported about 280 mainline and 215 Connection cancellations out of more than 5,200 scheduled flights as of Monday noon ET.
– American: Cut roughly 200 flights per day, concentrating on routes it operates multiple times daily to make rebooking easier.
– Alaska Airlines Group (including Hawaiian): Announced cuts through November 11 while prioritizing protections for smaller and remote communities.
What to do if your flight is canceled
– Airlines are notifying affected passengers directly by email or phone. Monitor the contact information you provided at booking and check your airline’s app or website for real-time updates.
– Most U.S. carriers will automatically rebook passengers on the next available flight. If you prefer not to travel after a cancellation, federal rules entitle you to a full cash refund.
– Many airlines are waiving change fees for travel during the reduction period, including for basic-economy tickets. Check individual carrier pages for details (American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Alaska/Hawaiian, Southwest, etc.).
Practical steps for travelers
– Check your flight status frequently and keep your contact details current with the airline.
– Review rebooking, refund, and waiver policies so you know your options if your flight is canceled.
– Allow extra time at the airport and prepare for possible rebooking, delays, or rerouting, particularly if you’re traveling through one of the 40 affected airports.
Why the reductions are in place
The FAA reductions are intended to prevent safety issues from worsening while air traffic control staffing and payroll disruptions continue. Officials hope reduced traffic will reduce controller workload and maintain safe operations until staffing and pay issues are resolved. Travelers should stay alert for updates as the shutdown and mitigation measures evolve.
