US airlines’ daily cancelled flights exceed 2,700 as shutdown impact extends

Summary

U.S. carriers cancelled more than 2,700 flights on Sunday as the federal government shutdown continued to disrupt air travel. The FAA imposed schedule cuts at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports after growing numbers of air traffic controllers — unpaid for nearly a month — stopped reporting for duty. FlightAware recorded nearly 10,000 delays on Sunday alone, following large numbers of cancellations the previous two days.

The FAA began reductions at 4% and planned to increase them to 10% by 14 November, in effect daily from 06:00 to 22:00 local time, with further cuts possible. Major hubs including Atlanta’s Hartsfield‑Jackson and Chicago O’Hare saw the highest impacts; Newark and LaGuardia experienced average departure delays around 75 minutes. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned travel could “slow to a trickle” by Thanksgiving if the shutdown persists, and noted accelerated retirements among controllers and offers to deploy military staff whose civilian certification is uncertain.

Key Points

More than 2,700 flights cancelled on Sunday; nearly 10,000 delays were also reported that day.
Flight cuts ordered by the FAA affect 40 busiest airports; reductions started at 4% and were set to rise to 10% by 14 November (06:00–22:00 local).
Hartsfield‑Jackson (Atlanta) and Chicago O’Hare were among the worst affected; Newark and LaGuardia saw average departure delays of about 75 minutes.
From 1 October to 7 November, controller shortages have disrupted over 4 million passengers, per Airlines for America.
Airlines for America reported staffing‑related delay hours exceeded 3,000 on Saturday and attributed 71% of delay time to staffing problems.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned air travel could fall sharply around Thanksgiving and said further cuts — possibly up to 20% — might be required if controllers go unpaid for another pay period.
Controller attrition has increased (Duffy said 15–20 retirements a day), and offers to use military controllers are complicated by certification issues.

Context and Relevance

This story matters for travellers, airlines and businesses reliant on timely air services. It highlights the operational strain on the national air‑traffic system caused by a prolonged shutdown and an ongoing staffing shortage. With the busy Thanksgiving travel period approaching, the disruption could amplify economic and logistical ripple effects across airports, tourism and freight networks.

Why should I read this?

Short version: if you’ve got flights booked, this is a nightmare in the making. Massive cancellations and long delays are already happening — and could get a lot worse before Thanksgiving. Read this now so you can rearrange plans, check refunds/rebookings and avoid getting stranded.

Author style

Punchy: urgent and no‑nonsense — this isn’t just another travel hiccup. It’s a systemic disruption that could affect millions over the holiday period. Worth your attention if you fly, manage travel or work in transport logistics.