US airlines cancelled 1,330 flights on Saturday as federal government-mandated flight cuts entered a second day. The aviation industry is bracing for further disruptions as the ongoing shutdown leads to critical shortages of air traffic controllers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a 4% reduction in daily flights starting Friday. This directive affects 40 major airports and addresses safety concerns stemming from unpaid air traffic controllers. The cuts are scheduled to increase to 6% on Tuesday and reach 10% by November 14.
The FAA reported staffing issues at 25 air traffic control facilities on Saturday. These shortages caused significant delays in at least 12 major cities, including Atlanta, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York.
✈️ A shortage of air traffic controllers and Federal Aviation Administration-mandated flight cuts caused over 2,000 flight cancellations across the US from Friday through Sunday
▶️ It marks the latest and possibly largest disruption to US air travel since the government shutdown… pic.twitter.com/f5SYGyuijF
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) November 8, 2025The agency imposed ground delay programs at several locations. For example, delays at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport averaged 337 minutes. Overall, approximately 5,450 flights faced delays on Saturday, following 7,000 delays and 1,025 cancellations on Friday.
The core issue is the absence of paid air traffic controllers. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford reported that 20% to 40% of controllers have been absent from work recently.
Hundreds of flights are expected to be cancelled because of a new FAA order to reduce air traffic by 10% at 40 major airports. Here’s what you need to know if you’re flying soon.
Read more: https://t.co/G9SNuWT2R8 pic.twitter.com/t8bSxkWMKC
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) November 7, 2025During the shutdown, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners are working without pay. Many controllers were notified that they would miss a second consecutive paycheck next week.
Senator Ted Cruz highlighted the safety risks, noting pilots have filed over 500 voluntary safety reports about controller errors due to fatigue. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that deeper cuts of 20% could be required if more controllers stop showing up.
The Trump administration cites the air traffic control problems to pressure Senate Democrats. Meanwhile, Democrats blame the shutdown on a Republican refusal to negotiate over expiring health insurance subsidies.
