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39m ago

FAA Tightens Flight Caps as Shutdown Drags On, Extending U.S. Travel Disruptions

Airlines and safety officials say recovery will take days to weeks because crews, aircraft and controllers are out of position.

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As the government shutdown causes staffing issues at major airports, flight cancellations were set to rise to 6% Tuesday.

Overview

  • The FAA is moving flight reductions at 40 major airports from 4% to 6% on Tuesday, with 10% scheduled by Nov. 14 unless the shutdown ends.
  • More than 2,100 U.S. flights were canceled Monday after nearly 3,000 on Sunday, and delays exceeded 11,000, according to FlightAware.
  • Delta cut about 280 mainline and 215 regional flights through Wednesday, United listed 263 Tuesday and 271 Wednesday cancellations, and American canceled roughly 200 through Tuesday.
  • General aviation was curtailed at 12 major hubs, including Washington Reagan, Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Seattle and Boston, to ease pressure on controllers.
  • FAA leaders reported 20–40% controller no-shows at some large facilities and rising retirements, and Airlines for America estimates a 10% cap could cost the economy $285–$580 million per day.