US Air Traffic Disruptions Continue with Over 1,000 Flights Cancelled

Sun Nov 30 2025 22:58:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As the federal government shutdown persists, airlines face major flight cancellations and delays, impacting thousands of travelers across the United States.

More than 1,000 flights were cancelled on Saturday due to the ongoing federal government shutdown that has forced airlines to reduce traffic by 10% at major airports. Nearly 4,000 flights were also delayed, significantly affecting airports like Newark Liberty and Charlotte Douglas International. Air traffic controllers, struggling with fatigue and working without pay, are central to this disruption as negotiations in Congress remain unresolved.

Over 1,000 flights to, from, or within the United States were cancelled on Saturday as airlines grappled with restrictions imposed due to the federal government shutdown. This situation marks a continuation of flight disruptions begun earlier in the week.

According to flight tracking service FlightAware, nearly 4,000 flights were delayed on Saturday, a decrease from over 7,000 delays recorded the previous day.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the reduction of air travel capacity by up to 10% at 40 of the nation's busiest airports, attributing this measure to air traffic controllers reporting increased fatigue as they work without pay during the ongoing shutdown.

The impasse between Republicans and Democrats in Congress over budgetary issues has left the government shut down since October 1, further complicating air travel ahead of the busy Thanksgiving season.

Newark Liberty International Airport was particularly hard hit, with average arrival delays exceeding four hours and departure delays of more than 1.5 hours reported as of Saturday afternoon. Major airports such as Charlotte Douglas International and Chicago O'Hare also recorded significant cancellations.

As the shutdown enters its 39th day, many federal workers, including about 64,000 TSA agents, remain unpaid, further straining the air travel system. While the FAA has pledged gradual increases in flight reductions over the coming days, the situation is unlikely to improve without a resolution in Congress.

Efforts are ongoing in Washington as senators engage in discussions aimed at resolving the stalemate and restoring government functions.