Live Updated Fri Nov 07 2025 17:27:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
The government shutdown is now disrupting travel plans for thousands.
Air traffic controllers have been working without pay since October 1, and an increasing number of them have been calling in sick as the shutdown extends into its second month.
These staffing shortages prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate a 10% reduction in flights at 40 of the country's busiest airports, forcing airlines to cancel flights.
That started with a 4% reduction on Friday. It will ramp up to 10% by November 14.
Some 750 flights have so far been canceled as of 6 a.m. ET on Friday, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm. Only domestic trips are directly affected by the FAA mandate, with major airline hubs bearing the brunt of the impact.
What airlines are telling their passengers
The FAA's flight reductions could affect up to 1,800 flights and some 268,000 seats a day, according to Cirium, a data analytics firm.
With short notice and complex networks, it's not a simple task for airlines to cut flights. Carriers need to determine how to minimize the knock-on effects of planes and crews being left stranded.
If you have a flight booked from Friday onward, you should check with the airline about its status. Any cancellations or changes should be communicated to you.
United Airlines told its customers that cancellations are likely to affect regional and domestic flights that don't go between two hubs. United's US hubs are Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.
United Airlines says flight reductions could affect tens of thousands of its travelers
United Airlines expects that up to 25,000 customers a day could have their travel plans disrupted, a source close to the airline told 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.
United Airlines expects that up to 25,000 customers a day could have their travel plans disrupted, a source close to the airline told 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, the person said, United would likely be canceling 250 to 300 flights a day.
2025-11-07T17:14:08Z
Pete Syme Aviation Reporter
Map shows which airports have the most canceled flights
The map below shows the number of flights canceled at each of the 40 airports as of 6 a.m. ET on Friday, using data from the aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport experienced the highest number of cancellations, with 76. It's the world's busiest airport and Delta Air Lines' main hub.
2025-11-07T17:09:06Z
Pete Syme Aviation Reporter
Airlines call for an end to the shutdown
Business Insider has been reaching out to airlines over the past 24 hours to find out how they've been affected by the flight reductions.
Some of them were openly frustrated by the shutdown, calling on politicians to end it as soon as possible.
Business Insider has been reaching out to airlines over the past 24 hours to find out how they've been affected by the flight reductions.
Some of them were openly frustrated by the shutdown, calling on politicians to end it as soon as possible.
"This is unacceptable," a representative for American Airlines said. "We, once again, urge leaders in Washington to reach an immediate resolution to end the shutdown."
"We remain grateful to every air traffic controller and TSA or CBP officer who is working without pay to keep air travel functioning safely," a representative for Alaska Airlines said. "We continue to strongly urge our federal leaders to reach an immediate resolution and end the shutdown."
Southwest Airlines' statement concluded with the line: "We continue to urge Congress to immediately resolve its impasse and restore the National Airspace System to its full capacity."
2025-11-07T17:06:10Z
Pete Syme Aviation Reporter
FAA chief says there are 'signs of stress in the system'
"We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely," Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement on Thursday.
"The FAA will continue to closely monitor operations, and we will not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe."
"We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely," Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement on Thursday.
"The FAA will continue to closely monitor operations, and we will not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe."
In the same statement, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said: "My department has many responsibilities, but our No. 1 job is safety."
"This isn't about politics — it's about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay," he added.
"It's safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking."
2025-11-07T16:49:35Z
Pete Syme Aviation Reporter
How did we get here?
The government shutdown means federal employees like air traffic controllers aren't getting their usual paychecks. But since they're critical to safety, they still have to turn up for work.
As the shutdown persists into a second month, however, an increasing number of controllers are calling in sick.
The government shutdown means federal employees like air traffic controllers aren't getting their usual paychecks. But since they're critical to safety, they still have to turn up for work.
As the shutdown persists into a second month, however, an increasing number of controllers are calling in sick.
The first signs of stress were evident six days into the shutdown. Hollywood Burbank Airport's air traffic control tower was unstaffed for hours on the evening of October 6.
Flights could still take off and land as approach operations were handled remotely by a facility in San Diego. But for taxiing to and from the runway, pilots had to communicate among themselves.
Over the ensuing weeks, it became more common for the FAA to institute ground stops or ground delays at several airports nationwide due to ATC staffing shortages.
