Flight timings and cancellations are displayed on the departures board, a month into the continued U.S. authorities shutdown, at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., November 9, 2025.
Annabelle Gordon | Reuters
Flight cancellations had been once more piling up on Monday as air visitors controller shortages, worsened by the longest-ever U.S. authorities shutdown, snarled air journey coast to coast whereas President Donald Trump threatened to dock air visitors controllers’ pay if they’re absent from work.
On Monday, 1,432 of the 25,733 scheduled flights throughout the nation had been canceled, round 5.5% “and rising,” in response to aviation knowledge agency Cirium.
Final week, the Trump administration ordered airways to chop home flights at 40 main U.S. airports beginning with 4% reductions final Friday and ramping as much as 10% by this coming Friday, Nov. 14, citing strains on air visitors controllers.
“All Air Site visitors Controllers should get again to work, NOW!!!,” Trump mentioned in a publish on Fact Social, including that he would advocate $10,000 bonuses for any air visitors controllers who did not take any day off in the course of the shutdown. He mentioned those that do not instantly return to work could be “docked.”
The Nationwide Air Site visitors Controllers Affiliation, their union, did not instantly reply to Trump’s feedback on Monday.
Disruptions over the weekend included 18,576 delayed flights whereas 4,519 had been canceled, in response to FlightAware. Cancellations spilled over from regional, short-haul jets — which the biggest U.S. airways depend on for round half of home flights — to mainline flying.
United Airways and Delta Air Strains had been every providing flight attendants additional pay to select up flights, in response to firm messages seen by CNBC. United was additionally providing pilots additional pay for extra flights than it often does, an airline spokesman mentioned. Such additional pay is widespread throughout storms or different disruptions.
American Airways Chief Working Officer David Seymour mentioned Monday that 250,000 of its clients had been affected by disruptions over the weekend, with 1,400 cancellations attributed to air visitors management.
“That is merely unacceptable, and everybody deserves higher. Our air visitors controllers should be paid and our airline wants to have the ability to function at a stage of predictability and dependability that no main airline was in a position to present the flying public this weekend,” he mentioned in a notice to workers that was seen by CNBC.
Airways had been waiving change charges and in some instances, fare variations, relying on when clients may rebook journey. Prospects may additionally request a full refund for the portion of their tickets they had been unable to fly.
An indication of how extreme air journey disruptions have develop into throughout the federal government shutdown: Sunday’s 2,631 U.S. flight cancellations, 10% of the day’s schedule, marked the fourth-worst day since January 2024, Cirium mentioned.
Compared, on Friday morning, as Trump administration-mandated flight cuts took impact, cancellations ranked 72nd for the reason that begin of final 12 months.
The disruptions that upended the journey plans for a whole bunch of 1000’s of vacationers compelled them to search for different transportation. Automotive rental firm Hertz final week reported a rise in one-way demand. There’s additionally been elevated demand for personal jet flights in current days, in response to the CEO of constitution and fractional possession firm Flexjet.
Although the Trump administration order did not initially require personal aviation to chop in the identical approach as business airways, the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday started limiting these flights at a dozen U.S. airports. Nevertheless, many personal jet operators do not use the busiest business airports, mentioned the Nationwide Enterprise Aviation Affiliation.
Elevated pressure
Air visitors controllers missed their second paycheck of the shutdown on Monday, although they’re nonetheless required to work. A few of them have taken second jobs to make ends meet, authorities and union officers have mentioned.
“Now, they need to concentrate on baby care as an alternative of visitors flows. Meals for his or her households as an alternative of runway separation,” Nick Daniels, president of the Nationwide Air Site visitors Controllers Affiliation, mentioned at a information convention on Monday. “The added stress results in fatigue, the fatigue has led to the erosion of security and the elevated threat on daily basis that this shutdown drags on.”
The Senate made progress in a single day on a deal that would finish the shutdown, nevertheless it has not but authorized a funding invoice.
Daniels mentioned it is not but clear how lengthy it might take for controllers to obtain again pay for his or her work. Within the shutdown that led to 2019, it took about 2½ months earlier than the employees had been made complete, he mentioned.
Trump’s feedback about air visitors controllers on Monday drew criticism from Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., rating member of the Home Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, who referred to as the assertion “nuts!” and mentioned it ran counter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s name for aviation staff’ help.
“The men and women working lengthy hours in air visitors management towers to maintain the aviation system operating deserve our thanks and appreciation, not unhinged assaults on their patriotism,” Larsen mentioned.
That is breaking information. Examine again for updates.
