US freezes flight cuts at 6% as air traffic control absences shrink

Air travel across the U.S. remains heavily disrupted. On Tuesday alone, 1,200 domestic flights were canceled as the FAA raised its flight cut target from 4% to 6% at major airports.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said more air traffic controllers returned after reports of a shutdown deal, helping ease pressure slightly.

Despite signs of government reopening, the FAA confirmed that flight limits will remain until air safety metrics and staffing levels stabilize.
The agency’s air traffic chief Frank McIntosh said large sections of airspace were restricted over the weekend “to slow the entire country down,” causing widespread cancellations.

Officials cited rising safety risks—including more cases of aircraft getting too close mid-air, runway incursions, and slower controller responses.
At a press conference in Chicago, Secretary Duffy said: “These cuts will stay until we are confident that the system is safe to operate at full capacity again.”
The FAA plans to increase flight cuts to 10% by Friday if safety indicators don’t improve.

The controller shortage—long a problem for the FAA—has deepened. Duffy said 15–20 controllers retire every day, while many younger recruits are leaving due to stress, unpaid work, and the cost of living during the shutdown.
Former FAA official Mike McCormick compared it to the pandemic exodus: “When the stressors in the workplace become too much, those who can will resign or retire.”

Airlines have struggled to readjust schedules and reposition aircraft. Planes and crews are scattered nationwide.
McCormick expects limited recovery within days, but Eric Chaffee, a risk management expert at Case Western Reserve University, warned disruptions could last weeks: “It’s like pulling threads from a tapestry—everything starts to unravel.”
Complicating recovery, winter weather is adding further delays just weeks before Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving travel demand has slowed. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows ticket sales are rising slightly compared to last year but far below earlier projections.
Travelers are reconsidering plans amid cancellations and limited flight options. Analysts warn that the ripple effect could stretch into the busy Christmas season if staffing gaps persist.

The worst disruptions are at Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and New York airports—where heavy traffic and staffing shortages overlap.
Regional carriers like SkyWest and Republic Airways have taken the hardest hit, as many smaller routes they operate have been dropped by major airlines.
Long queues and cancellations are now common across major airports, affecting business travelers and families alike.

Airlines are losing “hundreds of millions of dollars a day,” according to Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group. The fourth-quarter financial toll is expected to be severe.
Industry group Airlines for America estimates 5.2 million passengers have faced cancellations or long delays since October 1.
University of Michigan student Henry Evans was among them—his Delta flight from New York to Detroit was canceled, forcing him to drive nine hours overnight to reach his classes. “A lot of people were doing the same,” he said.