Travel November 5, 2025 0 Comments

Flight Chaos Looms: What Friday’s Shutdown Could Mean for Your Travel Plans—and How to Stay One Step Ahead

Ever wonder what it’s like when the wheels come off the skyways? Well, buckle up, because the government shutdown is about to throw a massive wrench into U.S. air travel — starting this Friday, thousands of flights may be grounded daily if Congress can’t strike a deal to get the federal gears turning again. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy just dropped the bombshell: the FAA is set to scale back air traffic by a whopping 10% across the nation’s 40 busiest cities. That’s not just a minor hiccup; it’s the biggest disruption since this shutdown began, now the longest in U.S. history. With air traffic controllers stretched thin and growing fatigued after more than a month without full pay, safety is driving these tough cutbacks. This domino effect will ripple through major hub airports — causing headaches for travelers coast to coast. So, what’s the best move for anyone hoping to fly soon in this chaos? Let’s dive into the unfolding drama and figure out how to navigate the turbulence ahead. LEARN MORE

The government shutdown is about to affect air travel in a big way.

Starting Friday morning, airlines will have to cancel thousands of flights per day if Congress can’t reach an agreement to reopen the federal government, the Trump administration announced.

Speaking Wednesday afternoon, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration will order a 10% reduction in air traffic in each of the country’s 40 biggest cities.

Those cutbacks would likely affect flights at dozens of the nation’s biggest hub airports, with the disruptions to be felt by passengers across the country.

This would be easily the biggest impact to air travel since the beginning of the shutdown, which as of Wednesday was the longest in U.S. history.

The FAA called the measure “proactive” and safety-driven, citing increased strain on air traffic controllers.

Control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). SAMUEL CORUM/GETTY IMAGES

Critical aviation sector employees have now gone more than a month without a full paycheck. Call-outs among air traffic controllers began to surge last week, the FAA said — putting pressure on an already short-staffed workforce.

“We are starting to see some evidence that fatigue is building in the system in ways that we feel we need to work towards relieving some of that pressure,” Duffy said at a news conference.

Which airports will see flight cuts?

It was not yet clear which airports, routes or flights would be most affected by the flight reductions.

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The FAA planned to meet with airlines late Wednesday to discuss the new temporary restrictions.

FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said the FAA would offer more specifics Thursday about which cities and airports would be most heavily affected — but noted he hoped to make the cuts “proportional” across the major U.S. carriers.

However, Bedford warned, “There will be no perfect solution.”

Travelers wait to check in for a flight at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). JULIANA YAMADA/LOS ANGELES TIMES VIA GETTY IMAGES

In a letter to employees late Wednesday night, United Airlines said it would not cut long-haul international flying, or flights between its hubs. The Chicago-based carrier said it would focus its cuts on regional United Express flights, and flights that don’t involve flying from one United hub to another.

“We will continue to make rolling updates to our schedule as the government shutdown continues so we can give our customers several days’ advance notice and to minimize disruption for them,” CEO Scott Kirby wrote.

United 737 at Newark — ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

The airline said it would notify customers about cancellations through its mobile app, website and via push notifications — and said it would try to re-book as many flyers as possible.

Meanwhile, American Airlines said it would “proactively reach out to customers” as schedule changes are made.

“There is no need for customers to take any action,” the carrier said.

What should passengers do?

For now, it’s a bit of a waiting game for passengers wondering if their flight will be affected.

What to do if you’re flying this week

Travelers with flights planned for the coming days — including this weekend — should keep a close eye out for any email, text or mobile app communications from their airline.

It’s possible carriers could issue waivers allowing passengers to proactively make itinerary changes, or otherwise postpone their trip.

Expect to hear from more airlines within the next 24 hours about how they plan to handle the mandated schedule reductions.

“We are working with the federal government to understand all details of the new reduction mandate and will strive to mitigate impacts to passengers and shippers,” Airlines for America, a trade group for the largest U.S. airlines, said in a statement to TPG late Wednesday.

Flight departures board at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). JULIANA YAMADA/LOS ANGELES TIMES VIA GETTY IMAGES

Consider your ‘Plan B’

If I were flying this weekend, I’d certainly be thinking through my backup plan in the event that my flight gets canceled — whether it’s driving, taking a train or canceling my trip altogether.

I’d be especially cautious when flying on an itinerary that includes connecting flights. At this point, it remains to be seen how far in advance airlines will publish their cancellation plans.

We should know more on Thursday.

Flight delayed or canceled? Here’s what to do

Refund rules still apply

Keep in mind, under DOT policy, passengers whose flights are canceled or significantly delayed are due a refund, regardless of the reason for the disruption — if they ultimately choose not to fly.

If you’re scheduled to fly this weekend and your flight gets canceled, you’d be due a refund if you chose not to accept rebooking from the airline.

Some airlines may offer expanded refund policies. United said any passenger who would prefer not to travel would be eligible for a refund if they cancel their trip — even flights not affected by the cuts.

What does this mean for Thanksgiving?

Friday’s mass flight cancellations will begin with just two weeks to go until the unofficial start of the Thanksgiving travel rush — one that airlines had expected to be a record-breaker.

At this point, it’s too early to know for sure how these flight cuts will affect the upcoming holiday season. After all, much hinges on how long the shutdown drags on.

However, it’s possible travelers could see flight disruptions even if the shutdown ends in short order, the head of the nation’s top air traffic controllers union warned Wednesday.

“It’s going to take weeks to recover,” Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said during an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box.

What to do if you’re traveling for Thanksgiving

If I were booking flights for Thanksgiving, I’d be sure to use a credit card that has travel insurance protections, which can help you recoup the cost of an unexpected hotel stay or meal out if you get stranded.

And, I’d aim for a nonstop flight. If a connection is necessary, I’d opt for a multi-hour layover that will offer you a safety net if your first flight is delayed.

Travelers wait at a TSA checkpoint this week at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). MARK FELIX/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

And, consider signing up for a time-saving program to get you through security checkpoints, after we saw hourslong wait times this week at one major hub airport. Like air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration officers are working without pay.

US Travel Association: Congress ‘irresponsible’ in causing flight cuts

As of Wednesday, some 3.4 million travelers had seen their flight canceled or delayed as a result of shutdown-induced staffing challenges at the FAA, airlines said Wednesday.

The U.S. Travel Association applauded the FAA’s decision to cut flights in the interest of safety — but called Congress’ actions leading to the shutdown “irresponsible.”

“The shutdown is putting unnecessary strain on the system, forcing difficult operational decisions that disrupt travel and damage confidence in the U.S. air travel experience,” Geoff Freeman, the organization’s CEO, said.

This is a developing story. Check back soon for additional updates.

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