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2h ago

FAA Holds Flight Caps at 6% as Flights Steady After Shutdown

Staffing shortfalls leave the system vulnerable to delays through the holiday period.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 12: An American Airlines plane takes off near the air traffic control tower at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on November 12, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has reduced flights by 10 percent in 40 major airports around the country, including LAX, with airlines warning that flight disruptions could continue even after the end of the federal government shutdown as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Federal officials paused a planned ramp-up of flight reductions to 10%, keeping limits near 6% at 40 major airports as more controllers return to duty.
  • The Department of Transportation reported a sharp drop in controller callouts and counted 615 cancellations and about 850 delays by midday Nov. 14.
  • Austin–Bergstrom’s control tower has roughly half of its target 60 fully certified controllers, keeping the risk of ground delays elevated locally.
  • Major carriers including American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue and United kept flexible rebooking waivers in place as operations stabilize.
  • A Beach.com survey found 38% of respondents expect the shutdown to affect their travel plans, and experts say TSA and ATC recovery will take weeks.