Airlines across the United States have canceled more than 9,000 flights since the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered reductions in flight schedules late last week. The cuts were implemented to ease pressure on air traffic control towers that are understaffed due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
While there are indications that the government may reopen soon, disruptions at airports and economic losses linked to these cancellations are expected to persist for some time.
On Tuesday, another 1,200 commercial flights were canceled as the FAA increased its target for reducing domestic flights at major airports from 4% to 6%. The reduction affects 40 of the nation’s busiest airports. Despite this adjustment, Tuesday’s cancellations were fewer than those recorded in previous days.
The FAA has not provided a timeline for when it will lift these flight limitations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that “the cuts won’t go away until safety measurements improve and staffing levels stabilize at air traffic control facilities.” He also announced that the reduction will increase to 10% starting Friday.
Duffy declined to share specific data behind last week’s decision but cited reports of reduced separation between planes in the air, more runway incursions, and concerns raised by airline pilots about responses from controllers. At a news conference held at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, he said he was reviewing such incidents before making further decisions.
The shortage of air traffic controllers is not new but has been made worse by the shutdown. Many controllers who went unpaid during this period called off work due to stress or took other jobs to cover their expenses. Union leaders noted an increasing number of retirements and resignations among controllers during the shutdown.
Once the FAA order is lifted, airlines will need time to readjust operations. Aircraft have been rerouted and many are out of position. Recovery could be slow; former FAA official Mike McCormick believes operations may normalize within days—similar to recovery after a major snowstorm—but Eric Chaffee, a professor specializing in risk management at Case Western Reserve University, warned disruptions could linger for weeks as airlines manage complex operational challenges and winter weather ahead of Thanksgiving complicates matters further.
“It’s similar to if you start pulling threads out of a tapestry,” Chaffee said. “What you may find is that lots unravels in addition to what you are trying to remove.”
The uncertainty has affected holiday travel plans. Airline ticket sales for Thanksgiving have slowed as travelers reconsider flying amid delays and cancellations. Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, reported that while ticket sales for late November remain slightly above last year’s levels, growth has stalled compared with expectations.
Major hub airports—including Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and New York—have experienced most of the cancellations and significant delays due to regional staffing shortages in air traffic control centers and towers.
The head of the air traffic controllers union emphasized this week that controllers were not participating in an organized protest but remained committed despite difficult conditions. President Donald Trump criticized those who missed work during the shutdown on social media: “get back to work, NOW!!!” He also suggested docking pay for absent employees while awarding a $10,000 bonus for those who continued working.
Airlines face mounting financial losses from canceled flights and delays. Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group, estimated lost revenue could reach “hundreds of millions of dollars a day” and expects airlines will issue earnings warnings for the fourth quarter as a result.
According to Airlines for America—a trade group representing major carriers—about 5.2 million passengers have been affected by staffing-related delays or cancellations since October 1 when the shutdown began. The group noted that significant cancellation issues only emerged after last week’s FAA directive ordering flight reductions.
