US Warns of 20% Flight Cuts if Shutdown Persists

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the government could require airlines to reduce up to 20% of flights if the ongoing government shutdown continues. The Federal Aviation Administration  (FAA) ordered an initial 4% reduction in flights at 40 major airports starting Nov. 7, affecting about 700 flights from the country’s four largest carriers: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.

The FAA plans to increase cuts to 6% on Nov. 11 and 10% by Nov. 14 if the shutdown persists. “I assess the data; we’re going to make decisions based on what we see in the airspace,” Duffy said. International flights will not be affected.

Flight disruptions were compounded by air traffic controller absences, which caused delays at nine major airports including Atlanta, San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, Washington, and Newark. By 2 p.m. ET, more than 2,600 flights had been delayed. United Airlines canceled 184 flights on Nov. 7, rebooking half of affected passengers within four hours. The airline plans to cut 168 flights on Nov. 8 and 158 on Nov. 9.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said initial reductions would not significantly disrupt travelers but warned that deeper cuts could cause broader issues. “This level of cancellation is going to grow over time, and that’s going to be problematic,” he said. American canceled 220 flights on Nov. 7, affecting 12,000 passengers, though most were re-accommodated quickly.

The FAA had originally planned a 10% cut starting Nov. 6, but officials opted for phased reductions after determining larger immediate cuts could prove more disruptive. Over the weekend, smaller reductions are expected due to lower scheduled flight volumes. The phased approach aims to balance safety and operational continuity as the shutdown continues.

The federal budget impasse—now the longest government shutdown in US history—has left tens of thousands of air traffic controllers, airport security staff, and other federal employees without pay, creating severe staffing shortages across the aviation sector. Flight cancellations have increased alongside long security lines, as agents continue working unpaid for more than a month. The situation is worsening ahead of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, two of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle advised travelers to “buy a backup ticket with another airline” as cancellation risks rise. The FAA reported that half of the nation’s 30 main airports are understaffed, and nearly 80% of air traffic controllers are absent in New York airports. The crisis has intensified following an Oct. 31 collision between two planes at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, which occurred amid weather-related and staffing delays.

After 31 days without pay, controllers face “extreme stress and fatigue,” the agency said. About 14,000 air traffic controllers oversee US airspace, many currently receiving paychecks of zero dollars.