FAA holds airport flight cuts at 6% amid staffing; MSP spared deeper reductions for now
Facing staffing shortfalls from the prolonged government shutdown that has left air traffic controllers unpaid and prompted warnings of worsening chaos if paychecks are missed again, the FAA imposed phased flight reductions at 40 high‑volume airports but will hold cuts at 6% instead of ramping to 10% after a reported decline in controller callouts. Minneapolis–Saint Paul, which was on the FAA list and has already seen dozens of cancellations and delays, is spared deeper reductions for now even as thousands of flights nationwide have been canceled and officials caution disruptions could worsen if the shutdown continues.
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📌 Key Facts
- The FAA said it will hold planned flight reductions at 6% (instead of ramping to 10%) across 40 high‑volume U.S. airports after a safety review found fewer controller callouts and recommended pausing further cuts while staffing is reassessed.
- The flight‑reduction program began Nov. 7 as a phased rollout (initially about 4%), with a schedule that had called for increases (4% → 6% → 8% → 10%), and applies daily between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time; FAA officials said restrictions may remain until staffing stabilizes even if the shutdown ends.
- The root cause is the government shutdown: air traffic controllers have been unpaid since Oct. 1, have missed paychecks, and absences and retirements have surged (reported as roughly 15–20 retirements per day), producing staffing shortages and rising safety concerns (loss of separation, near‑misses, runway incursions).
- The operational impact has been large: more than 10,100 flights were canceled since the restrictions took effect (FlightAware), with thousands of daily cancellations and delays and airlines and industry groups reporting millions of passengers affected (Airlines for America ~5.2 million).
- Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) was on the FAA’s list of 40 affected airports and experienced dozens of cancellations and delays on peak days (roughly 60–75 cancellations reported on some days); MSP handles about 750 flights per day, so a 10% cut would equal ~75 flights.
- Airlines responded with customer‑friendly policies: United, Delta and American offered refunds or rebooking flexibility (including waivers and refunds on normally nonrefundable tickets); Delta said it would operate the vast majority of flights, including long‑haul international routes.
- Economic and logistical knock‑on effects are substantial: airport industry groups estimated daily economic losses in the hundreds of millions (ACI‑NA ~$327M; A4A $285M–$580M), and cargo hub restrictions threaten parcel delivery networks (e.g., FedEx, UPS hubs).
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford framed the cuts as safety‑driven, held coordination meetings with airline leaders, warned the situation is unprecedented and could worsen (with possible cuts up to 15–20%) if controller staffing continues to deteriorate.
📚 Contextual Background
- A 2019 law requires furloughed federal employees to receive back pay after a government shutdown ends.
- Essential federal functions generally continue during a shutdown, including border protection, law enforcement, air traffic control and power grid maintenance.
📰 Sources (27)
FAA says flight cuts will stay at 6% because more air traffic controllers are coming to work
New information:
- FAA and DOT say flight reductions at 40 airports will remain at 6% instead of rising to 10% due to a 'rapid decline' in controller callouts.
- Reason cited: more air traffic controllers are coming to work; safety team recommended holding at 6% while assessing a return to normal operations.
- Since restrictions took effect Friday, more than 10,100 flights have been canceled (FlightAware).
- The FAA originally planned to ramp reductions from 4% to 10% to relieve pressure from shutdown-driven staffing shortages.
By the numbers: The government shutdown’s toll on air travel in the US
New information:
- Quantifies 9,500 flight cancellations between Nov. 7 and mid-day Nov. 12 (FlightAware).
- Airlines for America says 5.2 million passengers have been affected by staffing-related delays/cancellations since Oct. 1.
- FAA’s cut path reiterated (4% initial to 10% by Friday) and that restrictions may remain until staffing stabilizes even if the shutdown ends before Friday.
- Twelve of the 40 airports also face expanded restrictions on business and many private flights.
- Average 30 ATC facilities experienced staffing issues on weekends during the shutdown—about 4x pre-shutdown weekends.
- Daily U.S. economic impact from 10% flight cuts estimated at $285M–$580M (A4A).
- Context note: Unpaid controllers calling out; Trump floated $10,000 bonuses for perfect attendance and threatened docking pay.
Flight delays, cancellations continue as FAA ramps up flight reductions at 40 US airports
New information:
- FAA target for flight reductions increases from 4% to 6% on Tuesday and to 10% by Friday.
- Nationwide operational impact update: about 1,700 cancellations Monday; over 1,200 cancellations and nearly 2,000 delays Tuesday.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cites rising safety risks with increased 'loss of separation' events and runway incursions, plus reports of stressed controller communications.
- Uncertainty noted on whether the Senate funding package to reopen government will alter the planned cancellations.
Trump tells air traffic controllers to ‘get back to work’ as government shutdown drags on
New information:
- President Donald Trump publicly pressured controllers to "get back to work, NOW!!!" and floated a $10,000 bonus for those working, with docking pay for those who haven't.
- NATCA President Nick Daniels warned fatigue is eroding safety margins and said retirements/quits are rising daily after 41 days without pay.
- Controllers and other FAA staff are set to miss a second paycheck Tuesday; prior 2019 shutdown back pay took more than two months to process.
- AP analysis: average of 30 air traffic control facilities had weekend staffing issues during the shutdown—about four times pre‑shutdown levels.
- Cirium: roughly 10% of flights nationwide were canceled Sunday, the fourth-worst day for cancellations in almost two years.
- FAA schedule of cuts reiterated: 4% already in place at 40 busiest airports, rising to 6% Tuesday and 10% by week’s end until safety metrics improve.
The shutdown could end this week. Here’s what that might mean for Minnesotans.
New information:
- MSP saw 68 flight cancellations on Monday, adding a concrete daily impact figure.
- Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union says restoring traffic flow will take time even if a deal passes, due to staffing ramp-up.
- Travel industry perspective (InsureMyTrip CEO): Thanksgiving week could still see long lines, cancellations and delays even with a shutdown-ending deal.
Flight delays and cancellations ‘only going to get worse’ the next few days
New information:
- Specific MSP totals for Monday: 24 departing flights (~5%) and 36 arriving flights (~7%) canceled, per FlightAware.
- Nationwide by 10 a.m. Monday: ~1,650 cancellations and ~3,000 delays.
- FAA cut schedule this week: 4% Friday already in effect, rising to 6% Tuesday, 8% Thursday and 10% Friday.
- DOT Secretary Sean Duffy reiterated cuts could reach 15–20% if the shutdown continues; controller retirements have jumped from ~4/day pre‑shutdown to 15–20/day.
- Controller absences Sunday hit 81 nationwide; at Atlanta, 18 of 22 controllers were absent.
- MAC spokesman Jeff Lea said Thursday could see >40,000 travelers at MSP, but active airline cancellations are increasing.
- Airlines for America says 4 million passengers have experienced disruptions through Sunday.
- InsureMyTrip’s CEO warned that even with a shutdown deal, staffing won’t 'reset overnight,' so Thanksgiving week could still see long lines and cancellations.
MSP Airport faces 60 flight cancellations Monday as FAA reduces air traffic amid shutdown
New information:
- MSP faced approximately 60 flight cancellations on Monday tied to FAA air-traffic reductions during the federal shutdown.
- Confirms FAA-driven capacity cuts are now producing a concrete daily cancellation count at MSP.
Flight cancellations and delays worsen as government shutdown drags on
New information:
- Updated national cancellations: 1,500+ Saturday and 2,900+ Sunday; early Monday ~1,600 already canceled and nearly 1,000 Tuesday.
- FAA schedule specifics: 4% reduction now, increasing to 6% Tuesday and 10% by the upcoming weekend.
- Air traffic controllers have now missed two pay periods; union leader Nick Daniels to hold a Monday press conference.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reiterated that cuts could reach up to 20% if staffing worsens.
Thanksgiving air traffic could ‘slow to a trickle’ if shutdown persists, transport secretary says
New information:
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Thanksgiving air travel could “slow to a trickle” if the shutdown continues, with only a few flights taking off and landing.
- FAA-ordered cuts that began at 4% and rise to 10% by Nov. 14 could increase to as much as 20%, Duffy said.
- FlightAware tallied 1,375 cancellations by late Sunday morning and more than 1,500 on Saturday across the U.S.
- Duffy said 15–20 air traffic controllers per day are retiring amid the shutdown, worsening staffing shortages.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth offered military air traffic controllers to help, though it’s unclear if they are certified for civilian systems.
- Duffy framed the cuts as safety-driven due to rising near-misses, rejecting claims they are political tactics.
US airlines’ daily cancellations top 2,000 for first time since shutdown cuts began
New information:
- U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,100 flights on Sunday, with over 7,000 additional delays the same day (FlightAware).
- FAA flight reductions are in effect daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time at 40 major airports and will ramp up to 10% by Nov. 14.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned further cuts up to 20% may be needed if controllers miss another paycheck and said Thanksgiving travel could 'slow to a trickle.'
- Controller attrition has accelerated, with '15 or 20 a day' retiring, according to Duffy.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth offered military air traffic controllers, though their certification for civilian systems is unclear.
- Sunday’s worst cancellation hubs included Atlanta (173) and Newark (115); average departure delays around 75 minutes at Newark and LaGuardia due to staffing.
MSP flight cancellations grow as government shutdown continues
New information:
- At MSP on Saturday: 30 flights canceled and 87 delayed (FlightAware); MSP’s site showed 23 cancellations and 57 delays.
- Friday saw 38 cancellations at MSP; between Sunday and Monday there were 63 cancellations (FlightAware).
- Delta extended its travel waiver by five days, allowing rebooking without fare differences.
- Airlines for America estimates 3.5 million people have experienced delays or cancellations since the shutdown began.
- TSA checkpoint waits at MSP were about five minutes or less Saturday morning.
How the government shutdown will affect international flights
New information:
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said international flights will not be reduced due to international agreements, warning that breaching them could lead partner countries to cut U.S. flights.
- United Airlines said its international flights and hub-to-hub flights will not be affected by the schedule reduction; American Airlines said there is no impact on its international flights at this time.
- Updated disruption counts: roughly 3,400 flight delays and 900 cancellations nationwide on Saturday, the day after phased cuts began.
- Airlines for America estimates more than 3.2 million passengers have been affected by delays/cancellations tied to controller staffing since the Oct. 1 shutdown start.
Democrats’ shutdown becomes everyone’s problem with flight cancellations right before Thanksgiving
New information:
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA may consider increasing cuts beyond 10% (to 15% or even 20%) if pressures continue.
- Midday snapshot reports roughly 850 flight cancellations Friday (some weather-related), updating impact figures during the rollout.
Government shutdown latest: Senators working through the weekend
New information:
- By Saturday morning, the first wave of cancellations is underway as airports implement the initial ~4% reduction, ramping toward up to 10%.
The FAA’s order to cut flights nationwide due to the government shutdown is in effect
New information:
- FAA’s nationwide flight-reduction order is now in effect as of Friday morning, Nov. 7.
- Reductions apply daily between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time.
- Ramp-up timing specified: cuts start at 4% and increase to 10% by Nov. 14.
- Nationwide cancellations already exceed 815 (FlightAware).
- Delta will cut roughly 170 flights Friday; American plans about 220 cancellations per day through Monday.
- Potential ripple effects on parcel delivery due to cuts at FedEx (Memphis) and UPS (Louisville) hubs.
Here are airports hit by the FAA pullback on air traffic; 3,300 flights daily to be canceled
New information:
- States Newsroom’s preliminary list of the 40 affected airports includes Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP).
- Airports Council International–North America estimates about 3,300 daily flight cancellations nationwide from the 10% cut across the listed airports.
- ACI-NA estimates a $327 million daily loss in economic output at airports due to the reductions.
- Context on which busy airports are/aren’t on the list (e.g., Nashville not included; cargo hubs like Memphis, Anchorage, Louisville are included).
MSP among 40 airports targeted by shutdown-related flight cuts
New information:
- MAC spokesperson Jeff Lea says MSP operations are currently normal but warns travelers to prepare for disruptions and check with airlines if reductions are enacted.
- Passengers are expected to begin receiving cancellation notifications on Thursday ahead of the cuts.
- United says it will focus reductions on smaller regional routes and smaller aircraft; United, Delta and American will offer refunds even on normally nonrefundable tickets.
- Frontier’s CEO advised travelers to consider buying backup tickets to avoid being stranded.
- FAA officials indicated that even if the shutdown ends before Friday, normal operations would not resume immediately until staffing stabilizes.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA leadership plan meetings with airline executives to coordinate safe implementation of reductions.
What to know about 10% reduction in flights at U.S. airports caused by the government shutdown
New information:
- United Airlines and Delta Air Lines will offer refunds to travelers who choose not to fly, even on typically nonrefundable tickets.
- National estimate of impact: up to 1,800 flights and about 268,000 seats could be cut during the reductions.
- FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said he has not seen such measures before in nearly four decades, calling the situation unprecedented.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of potential 'chaos in the skies' if the shutdown continues into a second missed paycheck for controllers next week.
- Additional context from NATCA: controllers are working unpaid mandatory overtime, contributing to staffing strain; widespread facility staffing limits were reported last weekend.
MSP Airport slated to be impacted by FAA flight reductions
New information:
- FOX 9 reports a phased rollout: reductions start at 4% on Friday and rise to 10% next week.
- MSP handles roughly 750 flights per day; a 10% cut would affect about 75 flights daily.
- Delta says it expects to operate the vast majority of flights, including all long‑haul international service, and will offer extra flexibility for changes/cancellations.
- FAA has not publicly listed the specific airports yet; multiple reports indicate MSP is included as part of the FAA’s Core 30.
- Travelers are advised to check with airlines; cancellations require rebooking or refunds, but meals/lodging compensation is not guaranteed.
Minneapolis/St. Paul airport on list of FAA airport traffic cuts
New information:
- Confirms MSP is on the FAA’s list of 40 airports subject to a 10% capacity reduction.
- Reaffirms the start timing as 'starting tomorrow' (Friday).
+ 7 more sources