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Flight Cuts Widen at 40 U.S. Airports as Shutdown Drives Third Day of Disruptions

Safety concerns from unpaid controller shortages are forcing phased capacity caps.

Overview

  • More than 1,100 U.S. flights were canceled by early Sunday after 1,521 on Saturday and 1,024 on Friday, totaling over 3,700 since the cuts began.
  • The FAA ordered airlines to reduce schedules by 4% starting Nov. 7, rising to 6% on Nov. 11 and 10% by Nov. 14, with officials warning cuts could reach 15% to 20% if attendance declines.
  • Staffing shortages triggered constraints at roughly 42 air traffic control facilities, with major hubs including Atlanta, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago and New York experiencing significant delays.
  • International flights are not required to be canceled under the FAA order, though airlines can make their own changes to long-haul schedules.
  • About 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay during the record shutdown, contributing to fatigue, absenteeism and operational strain.