Overview
- Airlines canceled more than 800 U.S. flights and reported thousands of delays on Friday as the initial 4% reduction took effect, according to flight-tracking data.
- The plan is set to rise to 6% on Nov. 11, 8% on Nov. 13, and 10% by Nov. 14 during daytime operating hours if funding is not restored.
- The directive applies to domestic traffic at 40 high-volume hubs such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Newark, while international routes are not targeted and commercial space launches face temporary limits.
- Carriers are concentrating cuts on regional and high‑frequency routes and are offering rebooking options, waivers and refunds, with American estimating roughly 220 cancellations per day.
- Transportation officials characterize the reductions as a preventive safety measure as controller absenteeism increases, and union leaders warn that prolonged unpaid work is driving resignations.