MSP cancellations mount as transport chief warns Thanksgiving travel may ‘slow to a trickle’ if shutdown persists
MSP has experienced growing disruptions — dozens of daily cancellations and rising delays — after the FAA ordered phased flight reductions (starting at 4% and ramping to 10%) at 40 high‑volume airports that include MSP. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Thanksgiving air travel could “slow to a trickle” if the shutdown continues and controllers miss more paychecks, as unpaid overtime, retirements and absences have driven thousands of nationwide cancellations and prompted airlines to offer refunds and waivers.
Business & Economy
Government
Government & Politics
Transit & Infrastructure
Public Safety
Government/Regulatory
📌 Key Facts
- The FAA ordered flight reductions at 40 high‑volume U.S. airports, applying daily between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time, phased from an initial ~4% cut and ramping to about 6% then 8% and to 10% (targeted by Nov. 14); officials warned cuts could rise to 15–20% if the shutdown and staffing pressures continue.
- Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is on the FAA list and has seen concrete impacts: roughly 60–75 cancellations on peak days (examples include 24 departing and 36 arriving flights canceled one Monday), with daily cancellation totals varying as the reductions roll out.
- Nationwide disruptions surged into the thousands daily after cuts began — reports show 1,500+ cancellations on some weekend days, more than 2,000 on others, and industry estimates range from ~1,800 flights (Cirium) to ~3,300 daily cancellations (ACI‑NA) for the affected airports; trade groups say millions of passengers (3.2–4 million) have experienced delays or cancellations since the Oct. 1 shutdown started.
- The immediate cause is severe controller staffing strain: air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown, have missed multiple pay periods, are doing unpaid mandatory overtime, and retirements/attrition have jumped to roughly 15–20 controllers per day (up from about 4/day pre‑shutdown), with notable daily absences at some facilities.
- Officials and unions say staffing and fatigue are creating safety risks (rising near‑misses and 'loss of separation' events); Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of potential 'mass chaos' and said Thanksgiving travel could 'slow to a trickle' if pay disruptions persist, while FAA leaders have convened airline executives to coordinate the reductions.
- Airlines are adjusting operations and customer policies: major carriers say most international and hub‑to‑hub flights remain protected, carriers (Delta, United, American) are offering refunds and extended waivers or rebooking flexibility, and some carriers advised travelers to buy backup tickets or expect fluid schedule changes.
- Authorities caution that even if a funding deal ends the shutdown, restoring normal traffic flow will take time because staffing and certification cannot 'reset overnight,' and unions and safety specialists say ramp‑up to prior capacity will be gradual.
- Broader impacts include large economic losses at airports (ACI‑NA estimated about $327 million per day), potential effects on parcel networks that rely on air hubs (e.g., FedEx, UPS), and political tensions as public officials (including the president) and defense leaders offered extraordinary interventions such as bonus proposals and use of military controllers, while union leaders pushed back citing safety and fatigue.
📚 Contextual Background
- Essential federal functions generally continue during a shutdown, including border protection, law enforcement, air traffic control and power grid maintenance.
- A 2019 law requires furloughed federal employees to receive back pay after a government shutdown ends.
📰 Sources (25)
Flight delays, cancellations continue as FAA ramps up flight reductions at 40 US airports
New information:
- FAA target for flight reductions increases from 4% to 6% on Tuesday and to 10% by Friday.
- Nationwide operational impact update: about 1,700 cancellations Monday; over 1,200 cancellations and nearly 2,000 delays Tuesday.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cites rising safety risks with increased 'loss of separation' events and runway incursions, plus reports of stressed controller communications.
- Uncertainty noted on whether the Senate funding package to reopen government will alter the planned cancellations.
Trump tells air traffic controllers to ‘get back to work’ as government shutdown drags on
New information:
- President Donald Trump publicly pressured controllers to "get back to work, NOW!!!" and floated a $10,000 bonus for those working, with docking pay for those who haven't.
- NATCA President Nick Daniels warned fatigue is eroding safety margins and said retirements/quits are rising daily after 41 days without pay.
- Controllers and other FAA staff are set to miss a second paycheck Tuesday; prior 2019 shutdown back pay took more than two months to process.
- AP analysis: average of 30 air traffic control facilities had weekend staffing issues during the shutdown—about four times pre‑shutdown levels.
- Cirium: roughly 10% of flights nationwide were canceled Sunday, the fourth-worst day for cancellations in almost two years.
- FAA schedule of cuts reiterated: 4% already in place at 40 busiest airports, rising to 6% Tuesday and 10% by week’s end until safety metrics improve.
The shutdown could end this week. Here’s what that might mean for Minnesotans.
New information:
- MSP saw 68 flight cancellations on Monday, adding a concrete daily impact figure.
- Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union says restoring traffic flow will take time even if a deal passes, due to staffing ramp-up.
- Travel industry perspective (InsureMyTrip CEO): Thanksgiving week could still see long lines, cancellations and delays even with a shutdown-ending deal.
Flight delays and cancellations ‘only going to get worse’ the next few days
New information:
- Specific MSP totals for Monday: 24 departing flights (~5%) and 36 arriving flights (~7%) canceled, per FlightAware.
- Nationwide by 10 a.m. Monday: ~1,650 cancellations and ~3,000 delays.
- FAA cut schedule this week: 4% Friday already in effect, rising to 6% Tuesday, 8% Thursday and 10% Friday.
- DOT Secretary Sean Duffy reiterated cuts could reach 15–20% if the shutdown continues; controller retirements have jumped from ~4/day pre‑shutdown to 15–20/day.
- Controller absences Sunday hit 81 nationwide; at Atlanta, 18 of 22 controllers were absent.
- MAC spokesman Jeff Lea said Thursday could see >40,000 travelers at MSP, but active airline cancellations are increasing.
- Airlines for America says 4 million passengers have experienced disruptions through Sunday.
- InsureMyTrip’s CEO warned that even with a shutdown deal, staffing won’t 'reset overnight,' so Thanksgiving week could still see long lines and cancellations.
MSP Airport faces 60 flight cancellations Monday as FAA reduces air traffic amid shutdown
New information:
- MSP faced approximately 60 flight cancellations on Monday tied to FAA air-traffic reductions during the federal shutdown.
- Confirms FAA-driven capacity cuts are now producing a concrete daily cancellation count at MSP.
Flight cancellations and delays worsen as government shutdown drags on
New information:
- Updated national cancellations: 1,500+ Saturday and 2,900+ Sunday; early Monday ~1,600 already canceled and nearly 1,000 Tuesday.
- FAA schedule specifics: 4% reduction now, increasing to 6% Tuesday and 10% by the upcoming weekend.
- Air traffic controllers have now missed two pay periods; union leader Nick Daniels to hold a Monday press conference.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reiterated that cuts could reach up to 20% if staffing worsens.
Thanksgiving air traffic could ‘slow to a trickle’ if shutdown persists, transport secretary says
New information:
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Thanksgiving air travel could “slow to a trickle” if the shutdown continues, with only a few flights taking off and landing.
- FAA-ordered cuts that began at 4% and rise to 10% by Nov. 14 could increase to as much as 20%, Duffy said.
- FlightAware tallied 1,375 cancellations by late Sunday morning and more than 1,500 on Saturday across the U.S.
- Duffy said 15–20 air traffic controllers per day are retiring amid the shutdown, worsening staffing shortages.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth offered military air traffic controllers to help, though it’s unclear if they are certified for civilian systems.
- Duffy framed the cuts as safety-driven due to rising near-misses, rejecting claims they are political tactics.
US airlines’ daily cancellations top 2,000 for first time since shutdown cuts began
New information:
- U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,100 flights on Sunday, with over 7,000 additional delays the same day (FlightAware).
- FAA flight reductions are in effect daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time at 40 major airports and will ramp up to 10% by Nov. 14.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned further cuts up to 20% may be needed if controllers miss another paycheck and said Thanksgiving travel could 'slow to a trickle.'
- Controller attrition has accelerated, with '15 or 20 a day' retiring, according to Duffy.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth offered military air traffic controllers, though their certification for civilian systems is unclear.
- Sunday’s worst cancellation hubs included Atlanta (173) and Newark (115); average departure delays around 75 minutes at Newark and LaGuardia due to staffing.
MSP flight cancellations grow as government shutdown continues
New information:
- At MSP on Saturday: 30 flights canceled and 87 delayed (FlightAware); MSP’s site showed 23 cancellations and 57 delays.
- Friday saw 38 cancellations at MSP; between Sunday and Monday there were 63 cancellations (FlightAware).
- Delta extended its travel waiver by five days, allowing rebooking without fare differences.
- Airlines for America estimates 3.5 million people have experienced delays or cancellations since the shutdown began.
- TSA checkpoint waits at MSP were about five minutes or less Saturday morning.
How the government shutdown will affect international flights
New information:
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said international flights will not be reduced due to international agreements, warning that breaching them could lead partner countries to cut U.S. flights.
- United Airlines said its international flights and hub-to-hub flights will not be affected by the schedule reduction; American Airlines said there is no impact on its international flights at this time.
- Updated disruption counts: roughly 3,400 flight delays and 900 cancellations nationwide on Saturday, the day after phased cuts began.
- Airlines for America estimates more than 3.2 million passengers have been affected by delays/cancellations tied to controller staffing since the Oct. 1 shutdown start.
Democrats’ shutdown becomes everyone’s problem with flight cancellations right before Thanksgiving
New information:
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA may consider increasing cuts beyond 10% (to 15% or even 20%) if pressures continue.
- Midday snapshot reports roughly 850 flight cancellations Friday (some weather-related), updating impact figures during the rollout.
Government shutdown latest: Senators working through the weekend
New information:
- By Saturday morning, the first wave of cancellations is underway as airports implement the initial ~4% reduction, ramping toward up to 10%.
The FAA’s order to cut flights nationwide due to the government shutdown is in effect
New information:
- FAA’s nationwide flight-reduction order is now in effect as of Friday morning, Nov. 7.
- Reductions apply daily between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time.
- Ramp-up timing specified: cuts start at 4% and increase to 10% by Nov. 14.
- Nationwide cancellations already exceed 815 (FlightAware).
- Delta will cut roughly 170 flights Friday; American plans about 220 cancellations per day through Monday.
- Potential ripple effects on parcel delivery due to cuts at FedEx (Memphis) and UPS (Louisville) hubs.
Here are airports hit by the FAA pullback on air traffic; 3,300 flights daily to be canceled
New information:
- States Newsroom’s preliminary list of the 40 affected airports includes Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP).
- Airports Council International–North America estimates about 3,300 daily flight cancellations nationwide from the 10% cut across the listed airports.
- ACI-NA estimates a $327 million daily loss in economic output at airports due to the reductions.
- Context on which busy airports are/aren’t on the list (e.g., Nashville not included; cargo hubs like Memphis, Anchorage, Louisville are included).
MSP among 40 airports targeted by shutdown-related flight cuts
New information:
- MAC spokesperson Jeff Lea says MSP operations are currently normal but warns travelers to prepare for disruptions and check with airlines if reductions are enacted.
- Passengers are expected to begin receiving cancellation notifications on Thursday ahead of the cuts.
- United says it will focus reductions on smaller regional routes and smaller aircraft; United, Delta and American will offer refunds even on normally nonrefundable tickets.
- Frontier’s CEO advised travelers to consider buying backup tickets to avoid being stranded.
- FAA officials indicated that even if the shutdown ends before Friday, normal operations would not resume immediately until staffing stabilizes.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA leadership plan meetings with airline executives to coordinate safe implementation of reductions.
What to know about 10% reduction in flights at U.S. airports caused by the government shutdown
New information:
- United Airlines and Delta Air Lines will offer refunds to travelers who choose not to fly, even on typically nonrefundable tickets.
- National estimate of impact: up to 1,800 flights and about 268,000 seats could be cut during the reductions.
- FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said he has not seen such measures before in nearly four decades, calling the situation unprecedented.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of potential 'chaos in the skies' if the shutdown continues into a second missed paycheck for controllers next week.
- Additional context from NATCA: controllers are working unpaid mandatory overtime, contributing to staffing strain; widespread facility staffing limits were reported last weekend.
MSP Airport slated to be impacted by FAA flight reductions
New information:
- FOX 9 reports a phased rollout: reductions start at 4% on Friday and rise to 10% next week.
- MSP handles roughly 750 flights per day; a 10% cut would affect about 75 flights daily.
- Delta says it expects to operate the vast majority of flights, including all long‑haul international service, and will offer extra flexibility for changes/cancellations.
- FAA has not publicly listed the specific airports yet; multiple reports indicate MSP is included as part of the FAA’s Core 30.
- Travelers are advised to check with airlines; cancellations require rebooking or refunds, but meals/lodging compensation is not guaranteed.
Minneapolis/St. Paul airport on list of FAA airport traffic cuts
New information:
- Confirms MSP is on the FAA’s list of 40 airports subject to a 10% capacity reduction.
- Reaffirms the start timing as 'starting tomorrow' (Friday).
FAA says it will list airports where it is reducing flights during the government shutdown
New information:
- FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford says the agency will announce Thursday which 40 high-volume markets will see 10% flight reductions, with cuts effective Friday, and that normal operations will not automatically resume even if the shutdown ends before Friday.
- Aviation analytics firm Cirium estimates the reductions could affect as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined.
- AP analysis found at least 39 air traffic control facilities reported potential staffing limits from Friday to Sunday, far above pre-shutdown weekend averages (8.3), underscoring growing staffing strain.
Flight experts say prepare for ‘unholy mess’ at airports, including MSP, as FAA reduces air traffic
New information:
- Analysts Henry Harteveldt (Atmosphere Research Group) and Kyle Potter (Thrifty Traveler) say MSP is likely to be included, but even if exempt, MSP flights will be disrupted by nationwide cuts.
- Harteveldt estimates a 10% cut could trigger 3,000+ cancellations per day and force reaccommodation for 400,000+ passengers daily.
- FAA will release the list of the 40 affected airports on Thursday; MSP status not yet known.
- Controllers are unpaid since Oct. 1, many working six days a week with overtime; some are calling out, exacerbating delays and safety concerns.
- Analysts warn airlines’ schedules and communications will be “fluid” through the weekend; expect daily updates and disruptions to cascade beyond the named airports.
- Historical context: the closest precedent cited is the 1981 controller firings, though today’s shortages and shutdown conditions differ.
+ 5 more sources