Overview
- Flight-data services reported hundreds of cancellations on Friday, with counts topping 800 in the morning and surpassing 1,200 by evening.
- American canceled 221 flights, United 184 and Delta 173, while regional operator SkyWest logged 172 cancellations across partner brands.
- The FAA’s emergency order targets largely domestic and regional operations at major hubs including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and Dallas, with international services largely unaffected in the initial phase.
- Airlines must provide full refunds for canceled flights and are rebooking affected passengers where possible.
- FAA officials cite widespread controller absenteeism, reported on some days at roughly 20% to 40%, and warn disruptions could deepen if the shutdown continues into the holiday travel period.