More than 800 flights cut across the US in government paralysis

More than 800 Flights Canceled Across the US Amid Government Paralysis

Travelers are facing significant delays and are urgently seeking alternatives, threatening holiday travel and nationwide air connectivity. On Friday, over 800 flights were canceled across the United States after the Trump administration ordered flight reductions to reduce pressure on air traffic controllers working without pay due to a congressional funding deadlock.

Airports Affected

Slower operations were expected at forty airports, including major hubs such as Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles.

Government Shutdown and Its Impact

Congress remains deadlocked in a bitter dispute over spending priorities, including healthcare, leaving federal funding stalled. As a result, many government employees, including essential airport staff, are either working without pay or furloughed at home during this nearly six-week crisis.

Flight Reductions and Future Outlook

The extent of the impact was initially unclear, as flight reductions were set to increase gradually: starting at 4% and potentially reaching 10% next week if no funding resolution is reached.

“More than 800 flights scheduled for Friday were cancelled, according to tracking website FlightAware, which would be more than the previous three days combined.”
Aviation analytics company Cirium reported that three per cent of US flights had been cancelled so far.

These cancellations mark a significant disruption to the US aviation system in the midst of ongoing government paralysis.

Author's summary: A government funding impasse under the Trump administration has caused widespread flight cancellations, straining holiday travel and critical airport operations nationwide.

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South China Morning Post South China Morning Post — 2025-11-07

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