With the federal shutdown in its 36th day, the Federal Aviation Administration late on 6 November ordered airlines to slash departures at the nation’s 40 busiest airports. Carriers must eliminate 4 % of domestic flights starting 7 November, rising to 10 % by 14 November if funding is not restored. United Airlines immediately cancelled up to 200 daily flights and Delta trimmed 170 on Friday alone.
The FAA says unpaid, exhausted air-traffic controllers pose an unacceptable safety risk. International services are exempt, but space launches and general aviation will face similar caps, and commercial launches are banned during peak hours. Airlines are waiving change fees and re-routing passengers onto larger aircraft, yet analysts expect as many as 1,800 daily cancellations next week, affecting 268,000 seats and billions in cargo contracts.
![Government shutdown triggers FAA-ordered flight cuts at 40 U.S. hubs]()
Corporate travel managers face a logistical nightmare: travellers on short-notice assignments may need to book alternate routings, accept longer drive segments or use private charter. Companies with critical supply-chain needs should review contingency contracts with dedicated cargo operators, who are lobbying for waivers. Immigration counsel also warn of domino effects—missed visa interviews and abandoned same-day naturalisation oaths could set applicants back months.
Politically, the cuts are designed to ratchet up pressure on Congress. But if the shutdown drags into the Thanksgiving peak, GBTA projects a $1.5 billion weekly hit to the business-travel economy, while airports warn of furloughs that could slow construction programmes for years.
The FAA says unpaid, exhausted air-traffic controllers pose an unacceptable safety risk. International services are exempt, but space launches and general aviation will face similar caps, and commercial launches are banned during peak hours. Airlines are waiving change fees and re-routing passengers onto larger aircraft, yet analysts expect as many as 1,800 daily cancellations next week, affecting 268,000 seats and billions in cargo contracts.
Corporate travel managers face a logistical nightmare: travellers on short-notice assignments may need to book alternate routings, accept longer drive segments or use private charter. Companies with critical supply-chain needs should review contingency contracts with dedicated cargo operators, who are lobbying for waivers. Immigration counsel also warn of domino effects—missed visa interviews and abandoned same-day naturalisation oaths could set applicants back months.
Politically, the cuts are designed to ratchet up pressure on Congress. But if the shutdown drags into the Thanksgiving peak, GBTA projects a $1.5 billion weekly hit to the business-travel economy, while airports warn of furloughs that could slow construction programmes for years.
