Overview
- Roughly 700 to more than 800 flights were canceled on the first day, with major hubs like Chicago O’Hare, Atlanta, Dallas–Fort Worth and Denver seeing the biggest impacts.
- Airlines began about a 4% cut on Nov. 7 under FAA direction, with reductions set to rise to 10% by mid-November and possibly higher if the shutdown continues.
- American plans about 220 cancellations per day, Delta about 170, Southwest around 100 and United reports fewer than 200 cancellations on some days.
- Officials and carriers say long‑haul international flights are largely spared as cuts focus on domestic and regional services, and cargo hubs in Memphis and Louisville are included.
- The Transportation Department ordered full refunds for affected passengers, and airlines are offering fee-free rebooking and refund options.