 "Travellers walk though Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as the Trump administration warns of impending cuts to commercial airline operations more than a month into the continuing US government shutdown in Arlington, Virginia, US, November 7, 2025. File Image/Reuters")
The United States aviation system is witnessing one of its most significant operational slowdowns as the ongoing federal government shutdown has forced authorities to begin reducing the number of commercial flights across the country.
These flight restrictions, implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have already resulted in notable schedule disruptions at major airports.
The measures come at a particularly sensitive moment, with impacts poised to grow in the lead-up to the Thanksgiving holiday period, traditionally one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.
The government shutdown, now the longest recorded in the country’s history, stems from a broader dispute over federal spending priorities between the Republican and Democratic parties.
Because they are classified as essential workers, air traffic controllers have continued working despite not being paid.
Yet after weeks without paychecks, staffing shortages, increased absenteeism and overtime burdens have prompted the FAA to initiate a nationwide scaling back of flight operations in an attempt to prevent safety risks.
What is the rationale behind the reductions?
The FAA has stated that the reductions are necessary to maintain the integrity of the airspace system under strained personnel conditions. FAA administrator Bryan Bedford explained the justification behind the decision, “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.”
According to him, the situation has entered territory not previously experienced in the industry, noting that “I’m 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. We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns.”
The reductions initially target approximately 40 of the busiest airports in the United States.
These locations include major international hubs such as New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and key connecting points like Chicago, Houston, Denver, Washington DC, Newark and San Francisco.
The reductions started at an estimated 4 per cent of scheduled commercial flights but are set to increase to as much as 10 per cent within days if the shutdown continues.
The timeframe for these reductions has been set primarily between 6 am and 10 pm local time to cover peak aviation activity periods.
As of November 7, more than 800 flights associated with the United States had been cancelled in a single morning, according to data from FlightAware, a flight tracking service.
The service’s figures showed that a majority of global cancellations on that day were connected to the US aviation system.
The agency estimates that the reductions could represent up to 1,800 flights and more than 268,000 passenger seats when fully scaled up, based on projections from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the cuts could deepen rapidly. He observed that if the shutdown continues without an agreement, the number of controllers available to work could continue to decline.
Duffy explained the possibility of increasing cancellations, “If the shutdown doesn’t end relatively soon, the consequence is that more controllers don’t come to work.”
He also said that Democrats would bear responsibility for any “mass chaos”, though the shutdown has resulted from unwillingness by both political parties to agree on a funding solution.
The administration estimates that the nationwide shortfall of air traffic controllers could be affecting around 3,000 workers directly.
Additionally, more than 11,000 controllers categorised as essential were required to work without pay.
How is this affecting passengers at airports?
Despite the scale of the reductions, the passenger experience has been uneven across locations. Some travellers have reported minimal disruption so far, while others have encountered cancelled flights or schedule adjustments with limited notice.
At JFK Airport, where international and domestic flight patterns frequently intersect, travellers responded to reports of possible slowdowns by arriving earlier than usual.
Some passengers indicated they were trying to avoid being caught off guard by complications circulating on social media.
However, others arrived to find their original flights still operating close to schedule. Airline staff at the airport reported mixed impacts.
One American Airlines crew member preparing to operate a flight to Indianapolis told The Guardian she had not yet faced delays, stating she was still hoping to complete her scheduled route.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Guardian Republic Airways flight attendant Inderjeet Chamber described how her schedule abruptly changed: she had been assigned three flights for the day but learned that two had been cancelled. “I’m only working at one of them,” she said.
The situation at airports has also led some travellers to seek alternative transport methods. Rental car providers have recorded an increase in bookings, especially for one-way trips, suggesting that some passengers are choosing to drive rather than risk being grounded unexpectedly.
Others have preemptively cancelled or postponed travel altogether.
How are airlines approaching the disruptions?
US airlines have been trying to adjust schedules strategically in order to minimise passenger inconvenience.
Carriers including United, Delta, Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue have begun revising flight plans based on the FAA’s requirements while also offering passengers more flexibility than usual in modifying their bookings.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby released a statement saying the company “will continue to make rolling updates to our schedule as the government shutdown continues so we can give our customers several days’ advance notice and to minimise disruption.”
United has prioritised maintaining core travel routes, particularly those connecting its major hub airports. The airline also stated that its international flights will remain operational where possible.
Delta Air Lines has said it expects to continue operating most flights, but has introduced temporary flexibility for passengers in affected regions.
American Airlines is waiving ticket change fees and providing refunds to passengers for cancelled flights or for those who choose not to travel.
Under US Department of Transportation rules, passengers whose flights are significantly delayed or cancelled have a right to a full refund if they do not accept the airline’s rebooking offer.
Carriers such as Alaska, JetBlue and Southwest have stated that passengers on cancelled flights will often be automatically reassigned to the next available flight, although customers are permitted to cancel and receive reimbursement.
Travel analysts have noted that decisions about which flights to cancel often depend on aircraft size, occupancy levels and network scheduling priorities. For example, airlines are less likely to cut routes between key hub airports that link multiple regional and international destinations.
How has this affected the travel business?
Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council told Fox Business that “Business travel is a really big, important part of air travel – and if business travel isn’t happening then those are deals that aren’t being cut and hotel rooms that aren’t being filled.”
He added that continued disruptions could contribute to a decline in travel and leisure activity in the near term if conditions do not improve.
Tourism-heavy regions and major urban centres that depend on conference travel and visitor spending may be particularly exposed if cancellations become more pronounced.
Hotel occupancy, restaurant spending and event attendance could all be affected if widespread interruptions occur closer to the Thanksgiving holiday, when travel volumes historically surge.
The consequences also extend beyond passenger travel. Nearly half of US air freight is transported in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft.
Delays or reductions in passenger flights can raise the cost of shipping goods domestically and internationally. Increased freight costs could ultimately be passed along to consumers, raising retail prices.
Supply chain analysts are closely watching whether flight reductions will interfere with the production and distribution schedules of retailers preparing for the holiday sales season.
With inputs from agencies