Travelers are experiencing significant disruptions as the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has implemented flight capacity cuts at 40 major airports due to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. This situation has escalated as a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has forced these essential workers to continue their duties without pay.
As of 07:00 on Saturday, over 10,844 flights were delayed and 1,110 cancelled across the nation, according to data from FlightAware. Among the affected airports are San Diego International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Ontario International Airport. Specifically, San Diego reported 10 flight delays and 13 cancellations on Saturday alone. Last weekend saw 2,740 flight delays, with further complications anticipated unless the government shutdown is resolved.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that flight capacity would be reduced at these high-volume airports, starting with a 4% cut on Friday, followed by 6% on Tuesday, 8% next Thursday, and a final 10% cut by the following Friday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also restricting commercial space launches and reentries to the hours of 22:00 to 06:00 local time, in addition to prohibiting parachute operations and photo missions near the impacted airports.
San Diego International Airport ranks as California’s third busiest and the 25th busiest in the United States. Duffy emphasized the importance of safety in a statement, saying, “My department has many responsibilities, but our number one job is safety. This isn’t about politics — it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay.” He assured the public, “It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking.”
Flight operations at Los Angeles International Airport have also been affected, with reports of 20 flight delays and 19 cancellations as of Saturday morning. Ontario International Airport, in contrast, had no reported delays or cancellations at that time.
Airlines have proactively communicated with passengers regarding possible impacts. United Airlines informed travelers that they could request a refund or change their flights free of charge for journeys between November 6 and 13. Southwest Airlines indicated that “the vast majority” of its customers would not be affected, but offered the option for those with flights booked through Wednesday to adjust their travel plans at no cost or receive a refund if they choose not to travel.
Delta Air Lines has also alerted customers about flight reductions and provided guidance on how to change or cancel flights without incurring penalties. Frontier Airlines expressed confidence that most of its flights would operate as scheduled, though it plans to keep passengers informed about any potential impacts. The airline stated that customers whose flights are delayed for more than three hours for domestic routes or six hours for international routes would be able to rebook or request a refund.
As the situation develops and the government shutdown continues, travelers are advised to stay informed and check with airlines for updates on their flight status.
