US air travel faces disruptions despite Senate deal to reopen the govt

November 11, 2025

Washington: US airlines are preparing for another week of widespread travel disruptions, even as the Senate moved forward on legislation to end the 41-day government shutdown. More than 1,500 flights were cancelled, about 5.5 per cent of scheduled trips, according to flight tracking data.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the cancellations and schedule reductions are needed to ease pressure on air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay for more than a month. Flight reductions are expected to rise through the week, reaching 6 per cent on Tuesday, 8 per cent on Thursday, and 10 per cent on Friday.

Last weekend, roughly 5,000 flights were cancelled nationwide as restrictions at major airports took effect, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Sunday saw the highest level of disruption, with 10 per cent of all scheduled flights cancelled, the fourth-worst day for flight cancellations in the United States this year.

US President Donald Trump on Monday said controllers who failed to report to work would be “docked,” though he did not specify how the penalty would be applied.

He also said he would recommend bonuses of $10,000 for controllers who worked throughout the shutdown. “All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially “docked.” For those Air Traff Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the “Democrat Shutdown Hoax,” I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country. For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration told the Supreme Court on Monday that it will continue its legal effort to withhold full federal funding for food stamps during the shutdown.