Flight Cancellation Updates Amid US Government Shutdown
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a reduction of flights by 10% due to the ongoing government shutdown. This mandate affects 40 of the busiest airports across the United States, resulting in widespread travel disruptions.
Impact on Airports and Airlines
Since October 1, air traffic controllers have been working without pay, leading to increased absenteeism. As a result, the FAA first implemented a 4% flight reduction on Friday, intending to increase it to 10% by November 14.
- 40 US airports are affected by the flight cuts.
- Approximately 750 flights were canceled by 6 a.m. ET on Friday, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm.
- Only domestic flights are impacted.
- Major airline hubs are experiencing the hardest-hit disruptions.
Airline Reactions and Passenger Impact
United Airlines anticipates that up to 25,000 customers per day may have their travel disrupted. A source close to the airline shared with Business Insider:
"While the FAA mandated flight reductions to start at 4%, that's set to rise by 10% next Friday if the shutdown doesn't end. At that point, United would likely be canceling 250 to 300 flights a day."
Staffing Challenges
Staffing shortages caused by unpaid work have forced the FAA to enforce these reductions to maintain safe operations while managing limited personnel availability.
Flight Cancellation Data
The map compiled by Cirium displays the number of flights canceled at each affected airport as of 6 a.m. ET on Friday, visualizing the widespread impact across the country.
Summary: Flight cancellations at 40 major US airports are intensifying due to FAA-mandated reductions amid the government shutdown, deeply affecting domestic travel and airline operations.