US Government Shutdown Forces Airlines to Cancel Over 750 Flights Amid Air Traffic Control Crisis

Airlines have begun implementing reductions of up to 10-percent in flights across 40 high-traffic areas throughout the United States as of Friday.

Travelers nationwide are frantically rebooking flights as the ongoing government shutdown creates mounting pressure on America's air traffic control system, resulting in hundreds of Friday flight cancellations at major airports.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued the flight reduction order on safety grounds, prompting airlines to adjust their schedules accordingly.

According to tracking website FlightAware, more than 750 US flights scheduled for Friday were preemptively cancelled on Thursday.

American Airlines released a statement confirming they were reducing flight schedules "amounting to 220 flights cancelled each day." Delta Airlines reported cutting approximately 170 flights scheduled for Friday, while CNN indicated Southwest Airlines cancelled around 100 flights for the same day.

The shutdown has left tens of thousands of essential workers without pay, including air traffic controllers and airport security staff, resulting in critical personnel shortages.

FlightAware data showed that on Thursday, more than 6,400 US flights experienced delays, with approximately 200 cancellations. Passengers encountered extensive wait times at security checkpoints.

Major transportation hubs faced significant disruptions, with travelers at Boston and Newark airports experiencing average delays exceeding two hours. Chicago's O'Hare and Washington's Reagan National airports reported delays of more than one hour.

Officials stated they wanted to take preventative measures before an accident occurred.

"We're not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself, when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating," explained FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.

These reduction measures coincide with the nation entering its busiest travel period of the year, with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching in just weeks.

As millions of Americans confront potential travel disruptions due to air traffic control personnel shortages, President Donald Trump's administration attempted to reassure the public about flight safety.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted late Thursday on X: "It's safe to fly today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the proactive actions we are taking."

The new cancellations could impact thousands of flights daily. Flight reductions will commence at four percent on Friday and increase to 10 percent, according to media reports.

These reductions are targeting some of the nation's busiest airports, including those in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles.

Executing this order on short notice presents a significant challenge for airlines, which operate intricate networks dependent on numerous interconnected components and personnel.

United Airlines and Delta, two of America's largest carriers, have confirmed compliance with the order but stated it would not affect their international routes.

United further noted that "hub-to-hub" flying would also remain unaffected, suggesting cancellations might primarily impact more local routes.

Federal agencies across the United States have been ceasing operations since Congress failed to approve funding past September 30, leaving approximately 1.4 million federal workers, from air traffic controllers to national park rangers, either on enforced leave or working without compensation.

Many employees in high-stress aviation positions are now calling in sick and potentially taking second jobs to cover their expenses, according to Duffy's Wednesday statement.

FAA Administrator Bedford described the situation as unprecedented.

"I am not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we've had a situation where we're taking these kinds of measures," he remarked Wednesday.

"Then again, we're in new territory in terms of government shutdowns."