Overview
- Airlines are cutting operations at 40 major airports by 4% now, rising to 6% on Nov. 11, 8% on Nov. 13, and 10% by Nov. 14, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning reductions could reach 15–20% if staffing worsens.
- More than 1,000 flights were canceled Friday with over 5,000 delays, and Saturday cancellations again topped 1,000, as bottlenecks and ground stops hit hubs including Reagan National, Charlotte, Newark, Chicago O’Hare, and San Francisco.
- Carriers are focusing cuts on regional routes while largely protecting international and hub-to-hub service; American is canceling about 220 flights daily, Delta cut roughly 170 on Friday, and United listed 168 cancellations Saturday, with most customers rebooked.
- Controller and TSA absenteeism has climbed as federal staff work without pay and mandatory overtime, and FAA officials say the cuts are intended to relieve strain after safety indicators showed mounting risk.
- Airports and the broader economy are seeing ripple effects, with experts warning of cargo slowdowns because much freight rides in passenger jets, Denver opening a food pantry for unpaid workers, and the FAA limiting some private-jet operations at busy fields.