Thousands of Passengers Stranded across US as SkyWest, Southwest, American, Delta, United and More Airlines Face 856 Cancellations including in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington and More

Published on November 8, 2025

Thousands of passengers are stranded across the US today as SkyWest, Southwest, American, Delta, United, and several other airlines face 856 cancellations. The chaos is felt in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, and more. The primary cause of these disruptions is the ongoing US government shutdown, which has severely impacted essential services, including air traffic control. With many flights grounded or delayed, passengers are facing long waits, missed connections, and frustration at airports nationwide. Airlines are struggling to manage the overwhelming number of cancellations and delays, leaving travelers in limbo.

The ripple effect of this shutdown is causing massive operational challenges, further exacerbating the travel situation. SkyWest, Southwest, and other major carriers are among those hit hardest, and passengers in affected cities are scrambling for alternate travel options.

Major Travel Disruption Across US Airports

A sweeping disruption is rippling through the US air‑travel system today, with 2,484 flight delays and 856 cancellations reported across flights within, into or out of the United States. The cause is not simply bad weather or technical glitches: the phenomenon is being driven by the ongoing federal government shutdown and resulting staffing crises at key aviation agencies.

Why this is happening: The Shutdown Effect

Because the US federal government remains shut down, hundreds of thousands of federal workers—including air traffic controllers and airport security staff—are working without pay or are absent. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is enforcing significant flight reductions at major airports to keep air space safe amid staff shortages.

For example:

• The FAA has required airlines to reduce flights by 4 %, with plans to increase to 10 % at about 40 high‑volume airports.
• At several major hubs, the average delay per flight under ground delay programs has been 47–83 minutes.
• The shutdown has stretched into its 35th + day, making it the longest in US history and compounding existing staffing shortfalls.

In short: the cancellation and delay numbers above don’t just reflect routine operational hiccups—they reflect a systemic breakdown of parts of the aviation system.

Affected Airports & Cities: Wide-Impact Travel Disruptions

Today, several major US airports are experiencing significant delays and cancellations, impacting thousands of passengers.

Most Disrupted Airports

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL): 79 cancellations and 190 delays, heavily testing operations at the world’s busiest airport.
• Chicago O’Hare International (ORD): 80 cancellations and 191 delays, exacerbating nationwide flight disruptions.
• Newark Liberty International (EWR): 43 cancellations and 171 delays, with disruptions extending throughout the New York area.
• Reagan National (DCA): 37 cancellations and 211 delays, making Washington, D.C. one of the most challenging airports for timely departures.
• Denver International (DEN): 74 cancellations and 119 delays, compounded by unpredictable weather conditions.

Smaller Airports Affected

• Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW): 59 cancellations and 66 delays, critical for both domestic and international flights.
• Los Angeles International (LAX): 53 cancellations and 111 delays, particularly congested during peak travel times.
• Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX): 53 cancellations and 84 delays, often impacted by adverse weather.
• Miami International (MIA): 26 cancellations and 113 delays, with issues due to weather and congestion.
• Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA): 27 cancellations and 50 delays, caused by unpredictable weather patterns.

East Coast Disruptions

• John F. Kennedy International (JFK): 37 cancellations and 121 delays, struggling with congestion and peak travel times.
• LaGuardia Airport (LGA): 39 cancellations and 65 delays, hindered by outdated infrastructure.
• Washington Dulles International (IAD): 21 cancellations and 55 delays, with disruptions affecting international connections.

Smaller Regional Airports

Even regional airports like Piedmont Triad International (GSO) (3 cancellations, 5 delays) and Springfield (SGF) (4 cancellations, 3 delays) are facing disruptions, contributing to the larger network’s delays, especially at major connecting hubs like Chicago O’Hare and Hartsfield-Jackson.

These widespread delays and cancellations reflect the operational strain on the nation’s air travel network, affecting both major hubs and smaller regional airports across the US.

Why It’s So Widespread

Because major airports act as hubs connecting domestic and international flights, problems in one hub ripple through the network. The staffing shortages at the FAA, the mandated flight cuts, and the cancellations/delays at key nodes mean the whole network feels the pain.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

If you’re travelling (or were planning to) today and are impacted by any of these disruptions, here are recommended steps:

1. Check your flight status immediately – Use your airline’s app, website or call them. With 2,484 delays and 856 cancellations today, your flight may be affected.
2. Ask about re‑booking or alternate routes – If your flight is cancelled, request re‑routing. Because the FAA has ordered capacity cuts, flight options may be constrained.
3. Be flexible and expect delays – Even if your flight is still on, anticipate long waits, potential missed connections, and extra time at airports.
4. Understand your rights – Many airlines offer refunds for cancelled flights, but extras like meals/hotel might not be covered unless mandated.
5. Travel light & stay informed – Delays mean longer time in airport; staying nimble helps. Check for updates regularly.
6. Have a contingency plan – If your arrival is critical (meeting, holiday, connection), plan alternative transport or timing.
7. Be patient with staff – Recognise many airport/airline employees are dealing with this stress too. A calm approach can help resolve matters more smoothly.

Airlines Struggling with High Cancellations and Delays

Several major US airlines are facing significant disruptions today, with SkyWest Airlines leading with 176 cancellations and 104 delays, causing widespread impact, especially on regional connections. Southwest Airlines is particularly affected, with 129 cancellations and a staggering 618 delays, overwhelming airports and adding strain to the entire network. Endeavor Air also faces 79 cancellations and 38 delays, while Republic Airways reports 83 cancellations and 67 delays, mainly on regional flights.

Other carriers such as JetBlue Airways (with 110 delays and 25 cancellations) are struggling with on-time performance, while American Airlines has maintained relatively stable operations, reporting just 12 cancellations and 233 delays. Delta Air Lines (with 32 cancellations and 209 delays) and United Airlines (with 67 cancellations and 249 delays) are facing disruptions but performing better than many others. Smaller carriers like Envoy Air, PSA Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines have also contributed to delays, though their disruption rates are less severe compared to larger airlines.

Looking Ahead: Will This Improve Soon?

The Federal Aviation Administration’s capacity cuts (4 % now, heading toward 10 %) are designed to restore safe operations amid controller shortages. But unless the government shutdown ends and staffing normalises, disruptions are likely to continue. The numbers you’re seeing (2,484 delays and 856 cancellations) reflect a troubled system stretched thin.

Until staffing and funding issues are resolved, travellers should assume that flying today is riskier than usual. Airlines and airports are scrambling to keep up, but you may still face cancellations, delays, and fewer flight options.

Source: FlightAware, Reuters, Financial Times and Affected Airports