What to Do If Your Flight Is Canceled or Delayed During Government Shutdown

The FAA on Friday will reduce flights by 10 percent in 40 ‘high-volume’ airports nationwide.

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport was closed after a UPS plane crashed on Nov. 4, 2025. Jacki Thrapp/The Epoch Times

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport was closed after a UPS plane crashed on Nov. 4, 2025. Jacki Thrapp/The Epoch Times

As the ongoing government shutdown nears its 38th day and overstressed air traffic controllers continue to work long hours with no pay, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reducing air travel at 40 major airports on Friday to ensure safety.

Pre-existing shortages in air traffic controllers, compounded by what is now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, have led to tens of thousands of flight delays and cancellations since Oct. 1. The FAA implemented ground halts on Monday at airports in Dallas, Austin, Houston, and Washington as upward of 2,900 flights had been canceled or delayed.

Two days later, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said at a news conference that starting Friday, flights at 40 “high-volume” markets would see a reduction of 10 percent. Cities impacted include Atlanta, New York, Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles, Washington, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, and Houston.

Bedford said the FAA was taking this unprecedented step to ensure safety as the government shutdown continues, and overworked air traffic controllers begin to show signs of fatigue.

The FAA released the emergency order on Thursday night, which remains in effect until the agency announces a cancellation.

“Be aware, plan for alternatives, and anticipate those delays, especially if you are planning to operate into one of those top 40 airports, you can anticipate a reduction in the normal arrival rate into that airport,” National Business Aviation Association Vice President Heidi Williams said in a webinar shortly after the FAA released the order. “The name of the game is planning ahead, being aware, and planning for alternatives.”

Here’s what to know about steps you can take if your flight is delayed or canceled while the government shutdown persists.

Look Up Delays Before Going to the Airport

During the shutdown, the FAA has reminded travelers to routinely check its webpage that monitors airports and provides status updates on the National Airspace System (NAS). The page shows active advisories, ground delays, ground stops, and airport closures. The FAA also has an Aviation Weather Center page that has a live map showing active weather advisories.

The flight tracking website FlightAware also lists live flight delays and cancellations at all airports and which airlines are impacted. The website also allows users to search for the flight number and select the “Where is my plane?” option to see if it is delayed or canceled.

It’s also important to stay up to date on the government shutdown and any potential negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in Congress, which may bring the funding lapse to an end.

What to Do If Your Flight Was Canceled

Since airlines will rebook you on a later flight at no additional charge, it’s important to reach out right away. You can call the airline’s support number or go online to connect with its reservations staff, or you can message them on X, where they will often quickly respond.

If you’re already at the airport, get in line to speak with a customer service representative from your airline so they can help you with rebooking.

While it’s not yet peak travel time, and it may be easier to find seats on another flight, the busy holiday season is right around the corner and may make it more difficult to find different flights if you’re facing a sudden cancellation.

Some may choose to consider other travel options for the time being, depending on whether it’s feasible to reach the desired destination by car, train, or bus instead.

What If My Airport Is on the FAA List?

Airlines started to notify passengers on Thursday about potential cancellations impacted by the FAA’s 10 percent reduction, which takes effect the following day.

United Airlines said it was going to prioritize cutting in smaller regional routes that travel between busy hubs. United, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines all said they will offer refunds to any passengers who decide not to fly for any reason, even if they purchased a non-refundable ticket.

The Epoch Times has a full list of the 40 airports impacted by the FAA’s reduction order.

You’re also entitled to a refund if the airline significantly delays or changes your flight and you no longer wish to travel. A “significant delay” for domestic flights is three hours, and six hours for international trips. If the airline changes your origin or destination airport, adds connections to your itinerary that weren’t there when you bought your ticket, or downgrades you to a lower class of service, you are entitled to a refund.

In addition to your ticket value, you’re also entitled to refunds for any bag fees, seat upgrades, or extras you paid for but did not get to use.

Airlines legally must also notify you about flight cancellations and significant changes, or delays, and your right to receive a refund.

However, airlines are not required to offer travelers additional cash compensation or to cover room lodging or meals if they are stranded, if it’s the airline’s fault that a flight delay or cancellation was to blame. The Biden administration had proposed a rule to force airlines to pay passengers as much as hundreds of dollars in these kinds of circumstances, but the Trump administration withdrew it in September.

While each airline is different in what it offers to customers as remedies in the event of delays or cancellations, the Department of Transportation has a webpage that shows each carrier’s commitments for refunds and covering other expenses.

Kimberly Hayek, T.J. Muscaro, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.