For the first time since the government shutdown began, U.S. airlines canceled over 2,100 flights on Sunday, marking the most severe day of disruption yet. The cancellations — along with over 7,000 delays — stem largely from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) order to reduce air traffic due to critical staffing shortages.
Now in its third day, the slowdown at 40 of America’s busiest airports is stretching the aviation system thin. According to FlightAware, a real-time air travel tracker, Friday saw 1,000 cancellations, followed by 1,500 on Saturday, and then Sunday’s staggering spike.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the shutdown continues into the Thanksgiving travel season, air traffic could “slow to a trickle.” The FAA began ordering flight reductions of 4% starting Friday, with plans to raise that number to 10% by November 14, affecting all commercial airlines between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time.
Major airports felt the brunt of Sunday’s crisis. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport reported 173 cancellations, while Newark Liberty International followed with 115. The FAA reported average departure delays of about 75 minutes at Newark and New York’s LaGuardia Airport, both strained by staff shortages.
Meanwhile, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport stood eerily quiet, its terminals reflecting the ripple effect of a nationwide disruption.
Duffy admitted that additional cuts of up to 20% might be necessary if air traffic controllers continue missing paychecks. “More controllers aren’t coming to work day by day,” he said on Fox News Sunday, warning that by Thanksgiving, “air travel could slow to a trickle” — leaving families stranded and tempers high.
The air traffic control system was already under strain, with an aging workforce and long-standing staffing shortages. Now, Duffy says, the shutdown has “exacerbated the problem,” with 15–20 controllers retiring daily.
While the Defense Department has offered military controllers to help, it’s unclear whether they’re certified for civilian operations. Duffy, facing criticism that the cuts are politically motivated, insisted safety is the sole concern. “I needed to take action to keep people safe,” he said.
According to Airlines for America, the trade group representing U.S. carriers, staffing-related delays exceeded 3,000 hours on Saturday alone, accounting for 71% of total delay time. Since October 1, the shortages have disrupted travel for more than 4 million passengers nationwide.
As the holiday season approaches, America’s skies grow quieter — not by choice, but by crisis. The aviation system, built on precision and discipline, now faces one of its toughest tests yet: flying through political turbulence with millions of passengers waiting for clarity and hope.
