Flight Disruptions Continue as US Government Shutdown Enters Day 2

Sun Nov 09 2025 03:43:19 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Over 1,000 flights have been cancelled and nearly 4,000 delayed across the US as air traffic controllers face increased workloads during a prolonged federal government shutdown.

The federal government shutdown has led to significant air travel disruptions in the United States, with more than 1,000 flights cancelled and thousands delayed. The FAA has reduced air travel capacity at several major airports, raising concerns amidst one of the busiest travel seasons. The shutdown continues as negotiations in Congress stall.

More than 1,000 flights to, from, or within the US were cancelled on Saturday following directives for airlines to cut traffic as the federal government shutdown persists into its second day. Nearly 4,000 flights were also delayed, showing a slight improvement from the over 7,000 delays reported a day earlier, as tracked by FlightAware.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier announced that it would reduce air travel capacity by up to 10% at 40 of the busiest airports due to reports of fatigue among air traffic controllers who are working without pay. This ongoing shutdown, which began on October 1, highlights a continuing division in Congress over necessary budget negotiations.

Newark Liberty International Airport was particularly affected, with average arrival delays exceeding four hours and departures lagging by about one and a half hours, as per FAA reports. Other severely impacted airports included Charlotte/Douglas International and Chicago O'Hare International.

With Thanksgiving approaching, it marks a crucial time for air travel in the US, increasing the urgency to resolve the shutdown. The FAA has implemented various measures, including imposing restrictions on private jets, to alleviate congestion and prioritize commercial aviation. This will likely escalate over the coming days as flight reductions gradually rise to a full 10% by mid-November.

As of Saturday, controllers, critical to air safety, are among 1.4 million federal workers either working without pay or facing forced leave due to the shutdown. This situation remains tense as bipartisan negotiations aim to resolve the impasse, with federal workers, including Transportation Security Agency agents, continuing to face uncertainty about their employment during this prolonged shutdown.