Overview
- Domestic schedules are being reduced by 4% under an FAA emergency order, with projections to reach about 10% next week and as high as 15–20% if the shutdown persists.
- Operations at roughly 40 of the busiest U.S. airports are being curtailed because controller staffing is stretched during the federal funding lapse that began October 1.
- More than 1,000 flights have been canceled and thousands delayed, with average waits around four hours reported at some airports, including the capital’s main hub.
- Air traffic controllers are required to work without pay, and reports of illness and secondary jobs are worsening long‑standing staffing shortages.
- United is offering refunds even on nonrefundable tickets and for flights not canceled, while Delta, American, Southwest, Frontier, and Alaska have rolled out flexible change or cancellation options.