FAA Flight Cuts Deepen: 8% on Nov 13, 10% on Nov 14

FAA flight cuts — airplane parked at a US airport gate at dusk

The FAA flight cuts are about to get deeper. What started as a 4% trim on November 7 rises to 8% on Friday, November 13, and hits the full 10% on Saturday, November 14 — if the federal government shutdown is still going. Cancellations across the country have already passed 8,000, and the Federal Aviation Administration has just expanded the restrictions to business jets at a dozen airports. If you are flying in the United States this week, this is the update that matters.

Our first guide explained the order itself — FAA Flight Cuts at 40 US Airports: What Travelers Need to Know. This post is what has happened since, what changes in the next 48 hours, and what you should do about it now.

The Step-Up Schedule: What Happens and When

The FAA's emergency order, announced on November 5 by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, works in steps. Airlines must cut a growing share of domestic flights at 40 of the busiest US airports, between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. each day:

November 7 — 4%: the cuts began. FlightAware counted more than 1,000 cancellations and over 4,300 delays across the country on the first day alone.
November 11 — 6%: the second step took effect.
Friday, November 13 — 8%: the third step. This is tomorrow.
Saturday, November 14 — 10%: the full reduction, if the shutdown continues.

The FAA has said the schedule is not fixed in stone: the reductions could be increased or eased depending on safety data. But as of November 8, there was still no agreement in Congress to end the shutdown, and the agency has warned the limits will stay in place for as long as the shutdown continues.

What 10% Actually Means in Real Flights

Air traffic control tower at sunset during FAA flight cuts November 2026

A percentage sounds abstract until you turn it into airplanes. Aviation analytics firm Cirium estimates that once the full 10% reduction takes effect, about 1,800 flights and 268,000 airline seats will be cut every single day. That is roughly one in every ten domestic departures at the affected airports, gone from the schedule.

The numbers so far show how fast it adds up. Total cancellations passed 8,000 on Monday, November 9, when airlines scrapped more than 2,200 flights in a single day, with over 1,000 more set to be cancelled the next day. On Sunday, November 8, one in ten flights nationwide was cancelled — the fourth worst day for cancellations in almost two years, according to Cirium. On the first day of the cuts, SkyWest cancelled 178 flights, Southwest cancelled 129, and American and United cancelled roughly 80 to 100 each.

Airlines get to choose which flights they cancel to hit their targets, and they face a fine of $75,000 for each flight operated over the limit. The FAA has said it will impose cuts itself if carriers do not cut equitably across communities.

New This Week: Business Jets Barred at 12 Airports

On Monday, November 9, the FAA expanded the restrictions beyond commercial airlines, barring business jets and many private flights from using a dozen airports that are already under commercial flight limits. It is a sign of how tight the system has become: the agency is now rationing access for everyone, not just scheduled airlines.

Secretary Duffy has also warned that the disruption could drag on even after the government shutdown ends, and that the cuts could grow larger still if controllers keep calling out sick. About 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 airport security screeners have worked without pay since the shutdown began on October 1, and the FAA was already about 3,500 controllers short of its staffing target before the shutdown started. The shutdown is now the longest in American history, passing the 35-day record set in 2018 and 2019.

Flight Cuts at 40 Airports: Which Flights Are Affected

The order covers domestic flights only, between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. International flights are exempt, and airlines keep flying them. The 40 airports span more than two dozen states and include the country's largest hubs: Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Los Angeles, Charlotte, and airports serving New York, Chicago, Washington, Houston, Miami, San Francisco, and Orlando. The full list of all 40 airports is in our original FAA flight cuts guide.

One thing the order does not do is close any airport. Ground-delay programs and ground stops — like the ones the FAA ran at San Francisco, San Diego, and New York LaGuardia on November 10 — manage the flow of arrivals; they are not closures, and a delay program is not the same as a cancellation. Still, when one in ten flights is being cut on top of those controls, delays stack up fast, and a missed connection can cost you a day.

FAA Flight Cuts: What Travelers Should Do Right Now

Travelers waiting in a US airport terminal during flight cuts at 40 airports

If you have a US domestic flight booked between now and the end of the shutdown, a few practical steps will save you real trouble:

Check your flight status every day — on your airline's app or website, and on FlightAware. Airlines are adjusting schedules in waves, and a flight that looks fine today can be cut tomorrow.
Rebook early if your flight is cancelled. Do not wait at the airport: rebook through the app or by phone while seats on other flights still exist. The earlier you move, the more options you have.
Fly in the morning when you can. The first flights of the day are least affected by knock-on delays, which build through the afternoon as crews and aircraft fall out of position.
Avoid tight connections. With one in ten flights being cut, a 45-minute connection is a gamble. Give yourself at least two hours between flights at a hub, and a direct flight beats any connection right now.
Book flexible tickets. If you still need to buy, pick a fare you can change without a fee. The situation is changing day by day, and flexibility is worth more than a small saving.
Know your refund rights. Under the Transportation Department's automatic-refund rule, in force since October 2024, if the airline cancels your flight it must return the full ticket price and fees without you having to ask. Our guide to flight delay and cancellation compensation rights explains the details.

Thanksgiving Is Two Weeks Away

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and the days around it are the busiest travel period of the year in the United States. As it stands, the cuts will be at their full 10% level well before Thanksgiving, unless the government shutdown ends first. If you are flying for the holiday, book early, expect fuller planes and longer lines, and keep the advice above in mind. We will publish a dedicated Thanksgiving travel guide under the cuts in the coming days.

What Happens After November 14?

Two paths are possible. If Congress funds the government, the FAA has said the limits should lift — but Secretary Duffy has warned that disruption could drag on for days afterward while staffing recovers, so do not expect an instant return to normal. If the shutdown drags on, the cuts stay at 10% and could even grow: the FAA has said the reductions could be increased depending on safety data, and Duffy has warned they could get larger if controllers keep calling out. The last time the FAA issued this kind of order, in November 2025, the cuts froze at 6% and were lifted five days after that shutdown ended — the order never reached 10%. This time, the schedule points to 10% on Saturday, November 14, and travelers should plan for it, not hope it away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the FAA flight cuts affecting international flights?

No. The order covers domestic flights only, between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. International services are exempt. That said, if your international trip starts with a domestic connection, that first flight can still be cancelled — check the whole itinerary, not just the long-haul leg.

Will the flight cuts end when the shutdown ends?

The FAA has said the limits stay in place for as long as the shutdown continues, and they should lift once Congress funds the government again. Secretary Duffy has warned, however, that disruption could drag on even after funding returns, while staffing levels recover. Expect a few messy days after any deal, not an instant return to normal.

How do I know if my flight has been cancelled?

Your airline should notify you by email, text, or app notification — but do not rely on that alone. Check your booking in the airline's app and cross-check on FlightAware, especially the day before and the morning of travel. Schedules are being adjusted in waves as each step of the cuts takes effect.

Do I get a refund if the airline cancels my flight?

Yes. Under the US Department of Transportation's automatic-refund rule, if the airline cancels your flight you are entitled to a full refund of the ticket price and fees, and the airline must pay it without you having to ask. You can also choose to be rebooked on another flight instead. See our compensation rights guide for the full picture.

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