A Republic Airways passenger plane takes off near the control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
Samuel Corum | Bloomberg | Getty Images
More than 5,000 U.S. flights were delayed Saturday due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, and the country’s airlines will have to cut hundreds more flights next week if Congress fails to find a solution to end the government shutdown, currently the longest in U.S. history.
Trump administration officials this week ordered airlines to begin reducing flights at 40 busy U.S. airports on Friday, citing “increased reports of strain on the system from both pilots and air traffic controllers” due to the closures.
Late Friday, Senate Republicans rejected a Democratic proposal to reopen the government.
Air traffic controllers and airport security inspectors are required to work without receiving regular pay during the closure. Federal employees’ union says they will not receive their second full paycheck on Monday. According to union officials, some air traffic controllers work part-time jobs to make ends meet.
As of 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, nearly 1,650 U.S. flights had been canceled, about half of the 21,748 flights scheduled for the same day that airlines had previously announced. This rate of cancellations was comparable to severe thunderstorms, which are common but can cause disruption. Cirium said Friday ranked 72nd for the worst number of cancellations since Jan. 1, 2024.
Under the FAA’s order, the reduction will be 6% of the schedule, expanding to 8% by Thursday and 10% next Friday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News on Friday that cuts could ultimately amount to as much as 20% of the schedule, without providing further details. Airlines did not have to cut international flights.
The disruptions are occurring during a generally low-travel season, but the crucial Thanksgiving weekend is less than three weeks away. Daniel McKenzie, an aviation analyst at Seaport Research Partners, said in a note Friday that the impact on airlines could be fourfold, given that fares have soared during a period of high demand.
The airline said this week it was waiving date change fees for travelers on affected flights and that they could also request refunds. Airline executives said many customers were rebooking to alternative flights, while other airlines scrambled to make other arrangements due to last-minute changes. hertzFor example, on Thursday, the day the FAA announced flight reductions, it said one-way rental cars were up 20% compared to the same two days a year ago.
Delays increased throughout the day Saturday, with more than 5,400 U.S. flights delayed, according to FlightAware. Air traffic control staffing shortages caused delays at airports including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
The following airports are eligible for FAA and DOT reductions:
Affected airports:
ANC – Anchorage International ATL – Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International BOS – Boston Logan International BWI – Baltimore/Washington International CLT – Charlotte Douglas International CVG – Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International DAL – Dallas Love DCA – Ronald Reagan Washington National DEN – Denver International DFW – Dallas/Fort Worth International DTW – Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County EWR – Newark Liberty International FLL – Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International HNL – Honolulu International HOU – Houston Hobby IAD – Washington Dulles International IAH – George Bush Houston Intercontinental IND – Indianapolis International JFK – New York John F. Kennedy International LAS – Las Vegas McCarran International LAX – Los Angeles International LGA – New York LaGuardia MCO – Orlando International MDW – Chicago Midway MEM – Memphis International MIA – Miami International MSP – Minneapolis/St. Paul International OAK – Oakland International ONT – Ontario International ORD – Chicago O’Hare International PDX – Portland International PHL – Philadelphia International PHX – Phoenix Sky Harbor International SAN – San Diego International SDF – Louisville International SEA – Seattle/Tacoma International SFO – San Francisco International SLC – Salt Lake City International TEB – Teterboro TPA – Tampa International
