Brandon Bell/Getty Images
The government shutdown is affecting thousands of travelers across the US as airports struggle to cope with air traffic controller shortages.
The Federal Aviation Administration has mandated a 10% reduction in flights at 40 airports nationwide. That began with a 4% reduction on Friday. The rate will increase to 10% by November 14, unless the shutdown is resolved.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the FAA is rerouting private jets to smaller airports
Those wealthy enough to travel on private planes during the government shutdown are not without some level of inconvenience.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Saturday that the Federal Aviation Administration is requiring private jets to reroute to smaller airports so the limited number of available air traffic controllers can focus on triaging commercial flights.
Appreciate the question @LelandVittert.
Restrictions for private jets are already in place! We’ve reduced their volume at high traffic airports — instead having private jets utilize smaller airports or airfields so busy controllers can focus on commercial aviation. That’s only… https://t.co/h0sNyidtBw— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 8, 2025
Airports are now collecting food donations for their unpaid workers
Some essential airport workers, including air traffic controllers, who are paid through the Federal Aviation Administration using federal funds, have now gone without a paycheck for 38 days thanks to the government shutdown.
Many of those employees have stopped showing up for work, forcing the FAA to cancel over 2,000 flights this weekend. While travelers navigate the chaos, those airport workers are navigating their own survival.
Airports across the country are now rallying to collect food donations to help support those unpaid employees. Airports in Orlando, Cleveland, San Jose, and elsewhere are organizing donations through the hashtag #AirportsInAction.
ICYMI: Join us in stocking our pantry to assist MCO's dedicated federal employees affected by the government shutdown. #AirportsInAction Please ensure that items are nonperishable and unopened in the original packaging. You may also donate gift cards in the value of $10 each. pic.twitter.com/V3witg1JG7
— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) November 8, 2025
Cleveland's airport is partnering with a global relief organization to support its workers.
A huge thank-you to Rapid Relief Team US for providing meals for CLE’s hardworking federal employees as they go without pay during the government shutdown 🫶 #AirportsInAction pic.twitter.com/nSYlFxW4Yj
— Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) (@goingplacesCLE) November 8, 2025
A former TSA officer who now publishes a travel industry newsletter has also been raising funds for his former TSA colleagues who are struggling to afford gas to get to work.
Caleb Harmon-Marshall has so far raised over $4,000 through a PayPal donation campaign.
More travel delays are expected on Sunday as the FAA grounds hundreds more flights
Some 900 flights across the US were grounded on Friday. Another 800 on Saturday. And, so far, nearly 650 flights have been canceled on Sunday, according to data analytics firm Cirium. Here's a look at the number of cancellations affecting major airlines.
About 800 flights have been canceled so far on Saturday
Roughly 800 flights have been canceled as of 8:45 a.m. ET on Saturday, according to new data from Cirium.
American, Delta, United, and Southwest Airlines are among the most affected carriers. More than 900 flights were also canceled on Friday.
Duffy warns flight cancellations could rise to 20%
Speaking to Fox News on Friday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said flight cancellations could rise as high as 20% if the government shutdown goes on.
"If this shutdown doesn't end relatively soon, the consequence of that is going to be more controllers don't come to work," he said.
"I don't want to see that."
Delta says it has 'completed' weekend cancellations
Delta has said it is "temporarily reducing flights" across 40 US airports in line with federal directives.
"All planned FAA-directed flight cancellations for Nov. 7-9 have been completed," the airline added in an update on Friday.
Tell us about your flightmares
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines were among the hardest hit carriers on Friday.
Passengers faced delays and cancellations at major airports, including Atlanta, Chicago, and Denver.
If you've been caught in the chaos, let us know.
Recap
Staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay since the start of October, have worsened as the government shutdown has continued, with an increasing number calling in sick.
In response, the FAA has moved to reduce flight operations as it works to maintain safety standards despite the shortages.
"We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely," FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement this week.
"The FAA will continue to closely monitor operations, and we will not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe."
Read the original article on Business Insider
The post Flight cancellation updates: FAA’s government shutdown traffic reduction continues appeared first on Business Insider.
