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Over 1,200 Flight Cancellations Hit US Airports
More than 1,200 flight cancellations struck U.S. airports Friday after the FAA ordered carriers to reduce schedules amid the government shutdown.
Airlines including American (AAL), Delta (DAL) and Southwest (SWA) reported hundreds of cancellations as operators complied with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directives. The cuts hit roughly 40 major airports, with Atlanta (ATL), Denver (DEN), Newark (EWR), Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles (LAX) among the busiest affected.
Passengers faced long security lines, unpredictable delays and last-minute cancelations that left some travelers scrambling at gates. Airport staff and airline customer‑service teams worked through the day to rebook people and arrange accommodations where required. Many domestic routes were most affected; international flights remained largely unaffected.
Why the flight cancellations happened
The FAA’s order required airlines to trim planned operations so air‑traffic control and safety roles could be maintained with reduced staffing during the government shutdown. Carriers reduced schedules to align with available FAA capacity rather than risk overloading the system. That proactive scaling back is a standard safety-first response, but it translated into widespread disruptions for flyers across the country.
- Scale: more than 1,200 total cancellations reported on Friday, concentrated at major hubs.
- Impact: longer security queues, delayed departures, and hundreds of affected customers per carrier.
- Who: major U.S. carriers like American (AAL), Delta (DAL) and Southwest (SWA) led the reductions.
- Advice: check airline apps and airport departure boards for the latest updates on flight cancellations.
For travelers on affected routes, options included rebooking on later flights, requesting refunds, or seeking accommodations through the airline when overnight changes were required. Frequent fliers should monitor airline apps and sign up for text alerts; gate agents and social media accounts for AAL, DAL and SWA were primary channels for real‑time updates.
While the cancellations caused frustration and ripple effects across connecting itineraries, authorities emphasized that the measures were about preserving safety oversight while federal staffing was limited. If your travel plans were impacted, start with your carrier’s customer‑service options and consider travel insurance claims where appropriate.
