Travelers Face Widespread Flight Cancellations and Delays as Shutdown Grounds Air Traffic

The federal government shutdown is taking an increasing toll on air travel across the United States, with more than 1,700 flights canceled from Friday through Sunday and thousands more delayed. Airlines are cutting back schedules as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates reductions at 40 of the country’s busiest airports due to air traffic controller shortages.

The FAA ordered a 4% cut in domestic flights starting Friday, resulting in widespread disruptions at major hubs including Washington’s Reagan National, Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, Denver International, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Those reductions are expected to grow to 10% by next Friday if the shutdown continues, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning cuts could climb as high as 20% if Congress fails to resolve the impasse.

Airlines including American, United, and Southwest have already slashed hundreds of flights through early next week. United alone plans to cancel more than 700 flights between Saturday and Tuesday, while Southwest says it will cut 250 over the weekend.

Travelers are being urged to stay alert and flexible. Most major airlines are waiving change fees, and experts recommend booking directly through carriers, avoiding layovers, and checking flight status frequently. Passengers whose flights are canceled or delayed for more than three hours are entitled to full cash refunds under federal guidance.

The cascading disruptions are expected to ripple through airports nationwide — and even internationally, with hubs in Toronto, Amsterdam, and Tokyo also reporting increased cancellations tied to the U.S. slowdown. As one traveler told CNN, “I just don’t want to be stranded at the airport sleeping on a bench.”

Credit: CNN Newsource

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.