U.S. airlines cancelled more than 1,000 flights and delayed more than 3,000 others on Friday as passengers scrambled to rejig their schedules after Donald Trump’s administration ordered flight reductions at major airports.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered 10 percent flight cuts to start Friday at 40 U.S. airports, including those in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, citing safety issues and staff shortages during the ongoing government shutdown.
That chaos could run into Thanksgiving even if the shutdown ends in the coming days, according to Duffy. Industry groups project a record 31 million passengers traveling in the days leading up to and after the holiday.
The cuts hit hundreds of thousands of travelers with little notice. By late Thursday, more than 800 flights had already been canceled, and analysts estimated the reductions could ultimately mean 1,800 daily flights are scrapped.
As carriers struggle to adjust, United Airlines pledged it would do “everything we can to minimize disruptions to your travel plans” and was avoiding cancelations for long-haul international flights.
American Airlines said it was still awaiting further information from the Federal Aviation Administration as to how its flights would be affected while Delta Air Lines said it expected the majority of its flights to operate as planned.
Key Points
- More than 1,000 flights cancelled and hundreds more delayed
- The ‘Core 30’ airports expected to bear the brunt of travel disruption
- What are your rights if your flight gets canceled during government shutdown?
- Airline industry group urges Congress to act with 'extreme urgency' before Thanksgiving travel
- How the major airlines are handling flight reduction order
- 'This system was fragile even before it began': Air traffic controller union president says shutdown won't solve crisis
Good morning
Friday 7 November 2025 08:45 , Joe SommerladHello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Friday’s expected travel chaos across major U.S. airports after the Trump administration ordered 10 percent reductions in flights from major airports due to a shortage of air traffic controllers caused by the ongoing government shutdown.
Major flight cancellations hit airports as Trump administration cuts services over government shutdown
Friday 7 November 2025 09:00 , Joe SommerladAirports across the U.S. are bracing for chaos as cuts to flight schedules made by the Federal Aviation Administration come into effect amid the ongoing government shutdown, now the longest in American history.
By late Thursday over 800 flights within and in and out of the U.S. had already been canceled for Friday according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.com.
Around 200 flights were canceled Thursday as airports and passengers prepared to bear the brunt of the measures.
It comes after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the FAA announced that 40 of the country’s busiest airports across two dozen states, including New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago, would be phasing in a 10 percent reduction in their flight schedules.
The disruptions will affect service at many smaller airports too and some travelers had already started changing or canceling their itineraries.
Here’s Mike Bedigan and Rhian Lubin to set the scene.
Major flight cancellations hit as airports comply with cuts over shutdown
Watch: Transportation secretary announces flight reductions at 40 major U.S. airports
Friday 7 November 2025 09:15 , Joe SommerladHere’s Sean Duffy’s announcement Wednesday about the cutbacks, which he had warned were coming without a resolution to the government shutdown being forged by lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
The deadlock became the longest in U.S. history earlier this week and is now into its 38th day, surpassing the 35-dayer in 2018/2019 during President Donald Trump’s first term.
The ‘Core 30’ airports expected to bear the brunt of travel disruption
Friday 7 November 2025 09:30 , Joe SommerladAt his press conference Wednesday, Secretary Duffy said the decision to slash schedules was paramount for safe air travel amid pressure on air traffic controllers, who “are under immense stress and fatigue.”
He said the decision “had not been taken lightly” ahead of the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday travel season and named the FAA’s “Core 30” airports that are likely to be hardest hit by flight cancellations, which are listed below:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Intl (ATL)
- Boston Logan Intl (BOS)
- Baltimore/Washington Intl (BWI)
- Charlotte Douglas Intl (CLT)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- Denver Intl (DEN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth Intl (DFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
- Newark Liberty Intl (EWR)
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Intl (FLL)
- Honolulu Intl (HNL)
- Washington Dulles Intl (IAD)
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
- New York John F Kennedy Intl (JFK)
- Las Vegas McCarran Intl (LAS)
- Los Angeles Intl (LAX)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- Orlando Intl (MCO)
- Chicago Midway (MDW)
- Memphis Intl (MEM)
- Miami Intl (MIA)
- Minneapolis/St Paul Intl (MSP)
- Chicago O`Hare Intl (ORD)
- Philadelphia Intl (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (PHX)
- San Diego Intl (SAN)
- Seattle/Tacoma Intl (SEA)
- San Francisco Intl (SFO)
- Salt Lake City Intl (SLC)
- Tampa Intl (TPA)
What are your rights if your flight gets canceled during the shutdown?
Friday 7 November 2025 09:45 , Joe SommerladHere’s Kelly Rissman on what passengers can do if they find themselves caught up in the anticipated chaos this weekend.
What are your rights if your flight gets canceled during government shutdown?
In pictures: Passengers queue at George Bush Intercontinental in Houston
Friday 7 November 2025 10:00 , Joe SommerladThis was the scene in Texas yesterday as the problems first began to become apparent.
How the major airlines are handling the flight reduction order
Friday 7 November 2025 10:20 , Joe SommerladIn line with the federal directive, American Airlines has said it will reduce its schedules by 4 percent across 40 airports, amounting to around 220 flights canceled each day from Friday through Monday.
The vast majority of these cancellations are for regional flights, allowing the airline to maintain approximately 6,000 daily flights and minimize customer impact, it said.
Delta Air Lines announced the cancellation of about 170 U.S. flights on Friday, with fewer expected on Saturday due to lower travel volume. The carrier normally operates 5,000 daily flights globally.
United Airlines said it plans to cut 4 percent of its flights Friday through Sunday, resulting in less than 200 daily cancellations. The Chicago-based airline operates around 4,500 flights a day. Southwest Airlines will cancel about 120 flights on Friday.
Alaska Airlines has begun canceling a limited number of flights from Friday. The carrier said that most cancellations would affect high-frequency routes, allowing the majority of customers to be re-accommodated with minimal disruption.
Discount carrier Frontier said most of its flights would operate as planned, though in a LinkedIn post its CEO Barry Biffle advised customers traveling to funerals or other critical events over the next 10 days to book backup tickets on different airlines.
Newark Liberty International Airport suffering more than three hour flight delays
Friday 7 November 2025 10:40 , Joe SommerladPassengers arriving at the troubled New Jersey airport late Thursday were facing average delays of at least three and a half hours, The New York Post reports.
“Tomorrow is gonna be a nightmare,” one Newark Airport worker told the newspaper last night. “Tomorrow, the FAA will just shut down. Get out while you can.”
One stranded flyer trying to get home to Miami told the Post: “The flight was delayed one time. A second time, three times. And now I just got here. My connecting flight to D.C. has left, so now I gotta figure out what to do. Pay for a hotel, or probably drive myself to D.C.
“I don’t know what to do, this is my first time experiencing this, so I don’t know. I’m kind of shocked that I’m standing here by myself.”
Several busy East Coast airports, including Newark and New York’s John F Kennedy International and LaGuardia, are expected to be impacted by cancellations and delays on Friday.
Shutdown disruption will have ‘long-term impact’
Friday 7 November 2025 11:00 , Joe SommerladAn aviation expert has been telling Audie Cornish on CNN that the present upheaval could have lasting consequences for the industry, suggesting that people may think twice about careers as air traffic controllers if this level of disorder becomes the norm.
Tomorrow: Flights cut at 40 airports? FAA and TSA workers unpaid. What long-term impacts could this have on the airline industry? #Airport #Delays #GovernmentShutdown #TSA #FAA #Travel #News pic.twitter.com/Aur2Y5SEjE
— CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish (@CNNThisMorning) November 7, 2025
Air traffic controllers under pressure but officials insist it is safe to fly
Friday 7 November 2025 11:20 , Joe SommerladIn ordering its unprecedented flight cuts this week, the FAA cited a safety assessment of air traffic controllers but officials insisted the public should not be concerned and that it is safe to travel.
“It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week,” Sean Duffy said.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford reiterated that message Thursday, saying that the agency would not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe.
During the closure, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been forced to work without pay.
Absenteeism has risen to 30 percent or more at some airports as their workers turn to second jobs to feed their families or are unable to afford childcare.
But even before the shutdown, the FAA was already short of about 3,500 air traffic controllers, and many were working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks.
Airlines have estimated that at least 3.2 million travelers have already been delayed during the shutdown.
Holiday package deliveries ‘facing significant delay’
Friday 7 November 2025 11:40 , Joe SommerladThe disruption is already “affecting the efficiency of air cargo operations that retailers and e-commerce platforms rely on to meet the surge in demand during the holiday season,” Travel and Tour World reports.
That means chaos is likely to have consequences not just for travellers but for consumers at home ordering Black Friday, Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts as the year draws to a close.
“Experts have pointed out that the ongoing disruptions could lead to empty store shelves, delayed deliveries, and frustrated consumers,” TTW explains.
“These delays are expected to hit the hardest during the holiday rush when demand for products like electronics and last-minute gifts spikes. Additionally, air cargo plays a significant role in delivering items with tight turnaround times, and a slowdown in these operations could delay shipments that are dependent on quick delivery.”
What travellers can expect from shutdown flight frustration
Friday 7 November 2025 12:00 , Joe SommerladSpeaking to Reuters at Newark Airport, Grace Logeman from said she had driven for two hours on Thursday for a Frontier flight to Atlanta that was delayed by three hours.
The delay caused her to miss a connecting flight to the Dominican Republic for her sister’s birthday.
“I’m devastated,” she said while on hold with the airline’s customer service line. “As far as the ongoing shutdown… it’s hurting me. I’m the one sitting here now.”
She is by no means the only person venting her frustrations right now.
EVERY major airport and all the hubs are about to ground flights ahead of the holiday season. This is entirely on the Republicans. pic.twitter.com/awEmPhKREx
— g. (@GeauxGabrielle) November 6, 2025
Here’s more about the reality on the ground for frustrated U.S. travellers and what they can do about it.
The FAA is slashing flights because of the shutdown. Here's what travelers can expect
In pictures: Passengers facing delays at Seattle-Tacoma and Newark airports
Friday 7 November 2025 12:20 , Joe SommerladThis was the scene at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport late yesterday, as the flight reductions began to come into effect:
Similar scenes of frustration were unfolding across the country in Newark:
Airlines face $75,000 fine per flight if they go above limit
Friday 7 November 2025 12:40 , Joe SommerladUnder the Department of Transportation and FAA’s reduced capacity guidelines, airlines could be fined $75,000 for every flight they operate beyond the limit.
The authorities are attempting to bring in the flight reductions gradually, with the U.S. government aiming for a 4 percent cutback today, 6 percent by Tuesday, 8 percent by Thursday and finally 10 percent by next Friday in the hope of keeping the inevitable disruption under control.
Union boss outlines stark reality of shutdown for U.S. air traffic controllers
Friday 7 November 2025 13:00 , Joe SommerladNick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which represents more than 20,000 aviation workers, put the current crisis in context when he told CNN Wednesday: “Air traffic controllers are texting: ‘I don’t even have enough money to put gas in my car to come to work.
“We base what we do day in and day out on predictability. Right now there is no predictability.”
Subsequently speaking to CBS, Daniels stressed what a demanding job his personnel face and said they were “worried about putting food on the table, they can’t even pay for childcare in some instances.
“For 37 days, they’ve received zero income for the work that they’ve done, [and] a lot of times that’s 60 hours a week.”
The deadlock on Capitol Hill is “manifesting in anger,” he said.
“Today, one of the air traffic controllers was evicted from their apartment.
“Not only are the trainees feeling the pain... it’s those who are in mid-career, we’re seeing them start to resign too.”
In pictures: Passengers brave disruption in Georgia
Friday 7 November 2025 13:25 , Joe SommerladThis is the scene at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport this morning, one of the FAA’s “Core 30” facing flight reductions in the interests of public safety.
Senator teases a possible deal to end the shutdown – but will it pass?
Friday 7 November 2025 13:50 , Joe SommerladThe reason for all the travel chaos is, of course, the ongoing government shutdown but Senate Majority Leader John Thune has been teasing a deal that he believes could finally bring it to an end.
Here’s Mike Bedigan with the very latest.
Senator teases a possible deal to end the shutdown – but will it pass?
‘Will my US flight be cancelled during the government shutdown?’
Friday 7 November 2025 14:15 , Joe SommerladNatalie Wilson has answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about today’s disruption.
Three percent of flights canceled by 6 a.m., analysis finds
Friday 7 November 2025 14:22 , Alex WoodwardRoughly 3 percent of flights from U.S. airports were canceled by 6 a.m. ET, according to aviation data firm Cirium.
Around 25,400 flights were scheduled to depart, the company said, according to The New York Times.
Among the most affected flights were shuttle flights in the Northeast, flights inside Florida and trips between Dallas and smaller regional centers, the report found.
Carriers with the most cancelations included three of the biggest airlines, including American Airlines with 221 canceled flights, United with 184, and Delta with 173, Cirium reported.
Duffy suggests travel issues could run into busy Thanksgiving travel
Friday 7 November 2025 14:39 , Alex WoodwardSpeaking to reporters in Virginia, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggested that a busy Thanksgiving travel period could still be impacted by current airspace reductions, even if the government shutdown ends next week.
“If government reopens, day one, will I see an immediate response from controllers? No,” he said Friday morning.
“As we see data change and more controllers come to work, [the administration will work] as quickly as possible to take restrictions away,” Duffy said.
He called on members of Congress to show up at airports to speak with travelers to see the impacts of the government shutdown.
“My message is: Enough,” he said. “Come to an airport and talk to travelers and ask them if it’s worth it. ... Open it up and go through the process that our Founders set up for us.”
Recap: Major flight cancellations hit airports as Trump administration cuts services over government shutdown
Friday 7 November 2025 14:40 , Joe SommerladHere’s Mike Bedigan and Rhian Lubin with a reminder of the situation going into Friday as the Department of Transportation and FAA begin canceling domestic flights at 40 of the U.S.’s biggest airports.
Major flight cancellations hit as airports comply with cuts over shutdown
More than 1,000 flights within U.S. were delayed by 9 a.m.
Friday 7 November 2025 14:53 , Alex WoodwardMore than 1,000 flights within the U.S. have been delayed s of 9 a.m. today, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.
And cancelations are not far behind: at least 824 domestic flights have been canceled, according to the website.
Those figures are expected to climb as the FAA limits air traffic at major travel hubs during the government shutdown.
In pictures: Travellers face long lines at Chicago’s O’Hare
Friday 7 November 2025 15:05 , Joe SommerladPassengers flying in and out of the Windy City enduring delays caused by the flight cancellations.
What are your rights if your flight gets canceled during government shutdown?
Friday 7 November 2025 15:30 , Kelly RissmanAs the longest-ever government shutdown drags on, the Department of Transportation updated its policy this week when it comes to refunds for canceled or delayed flights.
Airlines are required to notify passengers of their right to a refund, the policy states.
Here’s what you need to know:
What are your rights if your flight gets canceled during government shutdown?
Today's vote on ending the shutdown is first big congressional test after election victories
Friday 7 November 2025 15:45 , Alex WoodwardThe Senate will hold yet another vote Friday on a short-term funding package that would reopen the government, the first congressional test after Tuesday’s sweeping Democratic victories.
The proposal would temporarily fund the government and guarantee a future Senate vote on a policy to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, which will send premiums skyrocketing.
An end of the shutdown would also begin to reset major staffing issues plaguing airports across the country and could begin to ease restrictions as millions of Americans prepare for holiday travel.
American Airlines chief calls on Congress to end shutdown
Friday 7 November 2025 16:01 , Alex WoodwardThe chief of the nation’s largest airline is urging members of Congress to “get together and get the government reopened” as the Trump administration shuts down travel, delaying and canceling thousands of flights.
Speaking to Good Morning America Friday, American Airlines David Seymour said the airline has 6,000 flights scheduled and was forced to cancel 200 today and through the weekend.
“It's super important that we end this government shutdown and get this aviation system open,” he said.
Asked whether the shutdown and travel restrictions would impact Thanksgiving travel, Seymour suggested that the decision lies with Congress, with American working to "mitigate any impact” travelers will feel in the coming weeks.
Flight attendants union pushes for shutdown end as union president warns of economic 'ripple effect'
Friday 7 November 2025 16:20 , Alex WoodwardThe Association of Flight Attendants is joining the National Air Traffic Controllers Association to call on Congress to end the government shutdown as hundreds of flight cancelations and delays kick in at major airports across the country.
Sara Nelson, AFA-CWA International president, said union members are concerned about safety and security risks creating a “ripple effect” with less work for flight attendant crews and an overall slowdown in the economy.
“Our members are starting to feel the economic impact right now,” she told CNN.
With federal aviation worker shortages, furloughs and callouts, and fewer security personnel and air traffic controllers, with fewer flights and stretched-thin cabin crews, “things are going to continue to slow down,” Nelson said.
Flight attendants across the country, especially members of @AFA_CWA, remain committed to standing with @NATCA in calling for an end to the government shutdown now. The government must reopen immediately to maintain safety and efficiency for the flying public. #EndTheShutdown pic.twitter.com/WKY0CpEUmt
— NATCA (@NATCA) November 7, 2025
Senate expects to stay in session this weekend, GOP leader says
Friday 7 November 2025 16:40 , Alex WoodwardSenate Majority Leader John Thune suggested he expects the upper chamber to be in session this weekend if Democratic members block the Republican plan to end the government shutdown.
“I think that should be the expectation,” Thune told reporters Friday.
He also suggested that Republicans aren’t taking up Donald Trump’s demand to eliminate the filibuster.
“In my view, the issue here is Senate Democrats, so I’m going to keep my fire trained on them,” he said. “But the practical reality is, it is a function of arithmetic and the math isn’t there.”
'This system was fragile even before it began': Air traffic controller president says shutdown won't solve crisis
Friday 7 November 2025 17:00 , Alex WoodwardThe government shutdown has compounded a long-running crisis for air traffic controllers, now reaching a breaking point.
“This system was fragile before it even began,” National Air Traffic Controllers Association president Nick Daniels told CNN News Central anchor Kate Bolduan Friday.
“We are 3,800 certified controllers short. The absence of one or two absolutely hurts,” she said.
Workers — who are now drawing $0 paychecks from the federal government — have been “stretched thin for so long” with “so much pressure on their back that they’re actually resigning.”
“It’s not about coming back to work. It’s about keeping the very ones we have,” he said.
Air traffic controllers are now “the rope in the tug-of-war game” of the shutdown, he said.
“We are always being used as a political pawn during a government shutdown,” Daniels said. “We are going to do everything we can, but what we can’t do is somehow, suddenly put money in our own pockets. We need Congress to open the government to do that.”
Family at JFK has avoided travel chaos as airport delays dozens of flights: 'We just hope it stays that way'
Friday 7 November 2025 17:15 , Andrea Cavallier and Alex WoodwardAt John F Kennedy International Airport, one of the three major airports in the New York City area and a critical transit hub for the rest of the United States, a family of travelers heading to Miami on Delta Airlines were bracing for trouble, but didn’t have any issues.
“The lady at the counter told us everything has been smooth today,” Gloria told The Independent.
Judith said they are supposed to return to NYC next Saturday. “Everything has gone OK so far,” she said.
“We just hope it stays that way,” added Eduardo. “It’s because of this government shutdown.”
The airport reported 255 delays Friday and 12 cancelations so far.
Kathy, who flew to New York from North Carolina Friday morning, said she had no issues. “I was a little worried at first but everything seems to be fine,” she said.
Airline industry group urges Congress to act with 'extreme urgency' before Thanksgiving travel
Friday 7 November 2025 17:41 , Alex WoodwardAirlines for America, an industry group that represents all major U.S. airlines, is warning that 31 million travelers are expected to travel around the Thanksgiving holiday between November 21 and December 1 — an “all-time high” number of passengers, just weeks away with no end to the government shutdown in sight.
“This simply is not sustainable,” the group said in a statement Friday.
We implore Congress to act with extreme urgency to get the federal government reopened, get federal workers paid and get our airspace back to normal operations. Time is of the essence,” the group said.
Travel cuts could increase another 10 percent if shutdown continues into Thanksgiving, Duffy says
Friday 7 November 2025 18:25 , Alex WoodwardTransportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggested Friday that flight cuts could increase to 20 percent at some airports if the government shutdown continues into a busy Thanksgiving holiday season.
“You might see 10 percent would have been a good number, because we might go to 15 percent or 20 percent,” Duffy said at an event hosted by Breitbart.
Duffy ordered 10 percent flight cuts to start on Friday at 40 major U.S. airports, including those in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, affecting both commercial and cargo services.
A prolonged shutdown — which is already the longest in American history — could also mean “more controllers who decide they can’t come to work and control the airspace, but instead have to take a second job,” he said.
Essential federal aviation workers are currently working without pay after receiving their first $0 paychecks this month.
Airports avoided major disruptions after hundreds of delayed flights
Friday 7 November 2025 19:15 , Alex WoodwardWhile delays have been reported at major airports across the country, major disruptions appears to be relatively limited thus far, after roughly 3 percent of the more than 25,000 flights scheduled for Friday were canceled.
LaGuardia and Newark airports experienced more than 700 and 600 delayed flights, respectively, blowing past their daily averages.
But major issues haven’t plagued major traffic hubs yet. San Francisco International briefly halted all flights this morning but flights resumed shortly after, with the airport experiencing hour-long delays on average, according to the FAA.
Other airports are seeing similar average delay times of 30 minutes up to an hour or longer.
Still, travelers are bracing for interruptions as airports get busier, unpaid federal workers get worn out, and the government shutdown drags on.
Flight attendant goes viral for TikTok explaining airport chaos mid-flight
Friday 7 November 2025 19:25 , Alex WoodwardVideo of a Delta flight attendant explaining widespread flight reductions to passengers the night before they kicked in has attracted more than 1.7 million views.
LaToya Todd’s video shows a Delta flight attendant telling passengers that “we will cancel a flight as long as the government requires us to.”
“It is entirely up to the FAA at this point,” he said, explaining that the agency has ordered a 10 percent reduction in flights in 40 major transit hubs, amounting to roughly 540 daily Delta flights.
“The priority is all international flights,” he said. “Anything else such as a Delta connection flight, a flight that does not go through a major hub, all those are fair game to be canceled.”
He added that “we don’t have any control” and “we’re kind of rolling with what the government tells us we can and can’t do right now.”
American and United announce updated cancelation numbers
Friday 7 November 2025 19:48 , Alex WoodwardAmerican Airlines, the nation’s largest airline, is planning to cancel roughly 220 of its 6,000 daily flights per day through Monday.
United Airlines canceled184 flights on Friday and plans to cancel 168 on Saturday and 158 on Sunday from its roughly 4,500 daily flights.
Senate Democrats introduce new measure to reopen government
Friday 7 November 2025 20:00 , Alex WoodwardSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rolled out yet another proposal to end the government shutdown, asking Republicans for a one-year extension of expiring healthcare subsidies in exchange for Democratic votes for a temporary spending bill.
Those Affordable Care Act subsidies are at the center of the debate among members of Congress, which has reached a monthly impasse over a bill to reopen the government.
Schumer called the proposal a “reasonable offer.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has previously called a one-year extension a “nonstarter,” but Schumer is offering up a “compromise” measure to get Republicans on board.
But Senate Republicans don’t appear willing to play ball.
“No, we’re not going to do that,” Senator Steve Daines said on Fox News after Schumer’s announcement.
Senators are expected to work through the weekend, as major airlines across the country brace for dozens of flight cancellations and delays as the Trump administration closes down transit.
.@SenSchumer: "Democrats are ready to clear the way to quickly pass a government funding bill that includes health care affordability. Leader Thune just needs to add a clean one-year extension of the ACA tax credits to the CR so that we can immediately address rising health care… pic.twitter.com/HvgLZHhhhb
— CSPAN (@cspan) November 7, 2025
DC airport reporting 4 hour average delays
Friday 7 November 2025 20:30 , Alex WoodwardDeparting flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., are experiencing four-hour delays, on average, according to the FAA.
The longest delay was reported at more than seven hours long. The delays are due to staffing shortages during the government shutdown, which have crippled operations nationwide.
At least six airports are currently experiencing ground delays, the agency’s system status is reporting as of 3 p.m. Friday.
Friday's cuts weren't out of the ordinary — but more are coming
Friday 7 November 2025 21:30 , Alex WoodwardRoughly 1,000 flights into and out of the United States on Friday had been canceled, or about 3 percent of the more than 25,000 scheduled daily flights in the U.S.
The Trump administration has argued that the mandatory cuts are necessary for safety, but officials and travelers are bracing for a chaotic holiday season.
While frustrating, Friday’s disruptions are not out of the ordinary. The average rate is between 1 and 2 percent.
Still, airlines will have to navigate those same level of cuts, daily, through the weekend and into next week, when cuts will increase to 6 percent on Tuesday, 8 percent on Thursday and 10 percent by next Friday, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Duffy also warned Friday that cuts could increase to 20 if the government shutdown continues, even if Congress clears a funding impasse by the time the busy Thanksgiving travel period begins.
Today's damage so far: More than 1,000 cancelations and hundreds more delays
Friday 7 November 2025 22:30 , Alex WoodwardBy late Friday afternoon, more than 3,500 flights into, from and within the United States were delayed, while U.S. airlines canceled at least 1,000 flights on the first day of new restrictions from the Trump administration during the government shutdown.
Delays and cancelations reported by FlightAware were reported across the 40 major transit hubs targeted in the administration’s order, with Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan International reporting four-hour delays, on average, with nearly 300 delays and 125 cancelations.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport reported more than 325 delays and nearly 100 cancelations.
Sean Duffy called ‘world-class stupid’ as he flies off to campaign stop for son-in-law with airports in chaos: report
Friday 7 November 2025 23:00 , Brendan RasciusAs airports across the country cut traffic, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to fly to a campaign event for his son-in-law.
Sean Duffy called ‘stupid’ as he flies to campaign with airports in chaos: report
What are your rights if your flight is canceled or delayed?
00:00 , Kelly RissmanCancelations? Delays? “Significant changes” to your flight? Here’s what you need to know, and what your rights are when it comes to air travel during the government shutdown.
What are your rights if your flight gets canceled during government shutdown?
Airline industry group urges Congress to act with 'extreme urgency' before Thanksgiving travel
02:00 , Alex WoodwardAirlines for America, an industry group that represents all major U.S. airlines, is warning that 31 million travelers are expected to travel around the Thanksgiving holiday between November 21 and December 1 — an “all-time high” number of passengers, just weeks away with no end to the government shutdown in sight.
“This simply is not sustainable,” the group said in a statement Friday.
We implore Congress to act with extreme urgency to get the federal government reopened, get federal workers paid and get our airspace back to normal operations. Time is of the essence,” the group said.
'This system was fragile even before it began': Air traffic controller president says shutdown won't solve crisis
05:00 , Alex WoodwardThe government shutdown has compounded a long-running crisis for air traffic controllers, who are now reaching a breaking point.
“This system was fragile before it even began,” National Air Traffic Controllers Association president Nick Daniels told CNN News Central anchor Kate Bolduan Friday.
“We are 3,800 certified controllers short. The absence of one or two absolutely hurts,” she said.
Workers — who are now drawing $0 paychecks from the federal government — have been “stretched thin for so long” with “so much pressure on their back that they’re actually resigning.”
“It’s not about coming back to work. It’s about keeping the very ones we have,” he said.
Air traffic controllers are now “the rope in the tug-of-war game” of the shutdown, he said.
“We are always being used as a political pawn during a government shutdown,” Daniels said. “We are going to do everything we can, but what we can’t do is somehow, suddenly put money in our own pockets. We need Congress to open the government to do that.”
-President-Nick-Daniels-speaks-at-Philadelphia-a.jpeg)
