People look at arrival and departures information at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Nov. 9, 2025. The government-mandated flight cancellations entered their third day on Nov. 9, leaving travelers once again glued to their phones and computers to see whether their flights are among the growing number of cuts.

More than 4,000 flights have been canceled across the United States since the Federal Aviation Agency started restricting flight capacity at 40 major airports Nov. 7 due to the ongoing government shutdown.

The FAA mandated that airlines cut 4% of flights at the chosen airports each day starting Nov. 4. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans to raise those cuts to 6% by Nov. 11, 8% by Nov. 12 and 10% by Nov. 14. If the shutdown drags on, Duffy said that number could rise to 15% or 20% of all scheduled flights.

"I look to the two weeks before Thanksgiving, you're going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle,” Duffy told CNN Nov. 9.

Each day since the FAA’s order has been in place, airlines have canceled over 1,000 flights. FlightAware data shows 1,025 cancellations on Nov. 7 and 1,566 on Nov. 8 for flights “within, into, or out of the United States.” As of 12 p.m. on Nov. 9, the data shows 1,491 daily flights have been canceled.

The move to limit flights comes as the record-shattering government shutdown stretches into its fifth week, keeping resources from airport staff and leaving air traffic controllers without pay.

The federal cuts are aimed at keeping travelers safe amid reduced staffing. Prior to the mandate, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said 20% to 40% of controllers were not showing up for work on any given day to manage flights.

Which airlines have cut flights?

Not all of the delayed and canceled flights were caused by the FAA's cuts, but airlines say they disrupted hundreds of flights – sometimes on a daily basis – due to the order.

  • Delta Airlines said it canceled at least 380 flights on Nov. 8, including 200 Delta mainline and 180 Delta connection flights. The carrier said it canceled 280 out of nearly 5,200 scheduled flights Nov. 9 and expected more to be affected.
  • United slashed at least 158 flights from its schedule for Nov. 9, 186 for Nov. 10 and 263 on Nov. 11.
  • Southwest said it reduced flights through Nov. 12 but did not specify the total amount.
  • American Airlines confirmed flight cancellations for Nov. 8 and previously said it reduced capacity by about 4% at the major affected airports. That amounts to around 220 flights canceled per day.

Karissa Waddick, a reporter on USA TODAY's Nation desk, can be reached at kwaddick@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How many flights have been canceled because of the government shutdown? Tally tops 4,000

Reporting by Karissa Waddick and Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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