U.S. airlines cancel 1,330 flights due to shutdown

Over 1,300 flights were canceled on Saturday as U.S. airlines faced ongoing disruptions due to the federal government shutdown. The FAA's mandate for flight cuts and air traffic controller shortages led to delays at major airports, with more cancellations expected in the coming days.

The ongoing U.S. government shutdown continues to cause major disruptions in the aviation industry, with 1,330 flights canceled on Saturday (November 8) as part of a series of mandated flight cuts across the country. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instructed airlines to reduce their daily flights by 4% starting Friday, citing air traffic control safety concerns due to shortages of air traffic controllers who have not been paid for weeks.

The flight cuts are set to increase to 6% on Tuesday and reach 10% by November 14, further escalating the impact of the shutdown on U.S. air travel.

On Saturday, the FAA reported that air traffic control staffing issues were affecting operations at 25 major airports and other centers, resulting in delays in at least 12 major U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York.

One of the busiest U.S. airports, Atlanta, saw average delays of 337 minutes due to the ground delay programs imposed by the FAA. In total, more than 5,450 flights were delayed on Saturday, adding to the 7,000 delays and 1,025 cancellations on Friday.

The flight reductions have had a notable impact on the four largest U.S. carriers: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, each of which canceled around 700 flights on both Friday and Saturday.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford confirmed that 20% to 40% of air traffic controllers have failed to show up for work in recent days, citing fatigue from the ongoing shutdown.

During a U.S. Senate debate on Friday, Senator Ted Cruz blamed the shutdown for the ongoing air traffic control crisis, revealing that over 500 safety reports had been filed by pilots about errors made by air traffic controllers, many attributed to fatigue.

The 39-day government shutdown has left 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners working without pay, significantly contributing to absenteeism and a growing crisis in U.S. air travel. Many air traffic controllers were also notified that they would not be paid for a second consecutive pay period next week.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that further 20% cuts in air traffic could be required if the staffing shortages worsen.

"I assess the data," Duffy said, "We're going to make decisions based on what we see in the airspace."

The shutdown, which has now extended into its sixth week, remains unresolved. The Trump administration has pointed to air traffic control issues as part of an ongoing effort to pressure Senate Democrats to support a “clean” government funding bill, one without additional provisions. However, Democrats continue to blame the shutdown on the Republican refusal to negotiate over health insurance subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year.

The aviation industry, meanwhile, continues to deal with the fallout from the shutdown, with travelers facing unpredictable delays and cancellations as government funding issues persist.

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