A U.S. government directive has led to significant cuts in commercial air traffic amid an ongoing government shutdown, impacting major airports nationwide and forcing travelers to alter their plans. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that these reductions are essential to ensure safety in air traffic control during the longest recorded federal shutdown, which has resulted in air traffic controllers working without pay.
As airlines begin to cut domestic flights, key international airports, including JFK in New York and LAX in Los Angeles, are also affected, potentially causing disruptions in global air travel. On Friday morning, flight tracking data showed over 800 U.S.-linked flights had been canceled, with around 80% of global cancellations attributed to U.S. operations. The shutdown follows a breakdown in negotiations between Republicans and Democrats regarding federal spending.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that 40 high-traffic airports will need to reduce operations, with a current 4% decrease expected to increase to 10% in the coming week. This measure is anticipated to impact up to 1,800 flights and approximately 268,000 seats, according to the aviation analytics firm Cirium. Notably, major hubs such as Atlanta, Denver, and Miami are included in the list of affected airports.
Airlines, including United, Southwest, and Delta, have started to cancel flights as a response to the cuts. While some airlines are striving to maintain the majority of their schedules, they have indicated a commitment to providing customers with timely updates. The disruption comes just weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday, traditionally one of the busiest travel periods in the U.S., increasing pressure on lawmakers to resolve the ongoing shutdown.
The FAA has reported a shortage of up to 3,000 air traffic controllers due to the shutdown, with many essential workers not receiving pay. The current situation represents an unprecedented challenge for the aviation sector, with the FAA administrator noting that measures taken during this shutdown are unprecedented in his experience.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/07/passengers-face-global-disruption-as-flights-cut-amid-us-government-shutdown