US airlines on Friday cut 4 per cent of flights at 40 major airports after the government imposed an unprecedented reduction on air travel, citing air traffic control safety concerns because of a record-setting government shutdown. United Airlines, which cancelled 184 flights on Friday, will cut 168 on Saturday and 158 on Sunday. Airlines were also dealing with the fallout from continuing air traffic controller absences as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) slows flights to address staffing issues. During the record long 38-day government shutdown, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been forced to work without pay. The FAA on Friday was delaying flights at six airports amid a spike in air traffic controller absences.

Source: The Irish Times November 08, 2025 14:31 UTC