(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) Chicago O’Hare International Airport recorded the highest number of flight cancellations in the United States on Friday, November 7, 2025, after a federal order forced airlines to trim schedules amid a deepening staffing crunch.
The immediate trigger was an FAA directive to cut flight volumes at major hubs while the federal government shutdown continues, leaving many air traffic controllers on duty without pay and thinning the ranks available to manage normal traffic. The results rippled through O’Hare’s packed terminals, where long lines, missed connections, and hours-long waits tested travelers’ patience.
FAA directive and the 10% cap
The Federal Aviation Administration said carriers must scale back operations at 40 large airports because fewer certified staff are available to manage takeoffs and landings safely.
- Under the order, airlines reduced schedules by 10%, a cap that went into effect as the shutdown dragged on and controller staffing fell further.
- The FAA emphasized that safety remains paramount during the funding lapse, which has forced triage across busy airspace sectors.
- For official operational updates and traveler guidance, the FAA directs the public to its website at https://www.faa.gov.
Why O’Hare felt it more sharply
O’Hare’s role as a sprawling national hub intensified the impact. With United Airlines and American Airlines operating large connecting banks throughout the day, any reduction in slots disproportionately affected regional and short-haul domestic flights. Those feeder routes often fill mainline aircraft later in the day.
Aviation analyst Joseph Schwieterman explained that carriers are protecting core trunk routes and long-haul services first, which shifts most cuts to the regional end of the schedule. Domestic flights that don’t link two hubs are more likely to be canceled early — a pattern observed across O’Hare.
Airline strategies and passenger impacts
United, O’Hare’s largest carrier, confirmed it is pulling back on regional flying and trimming some domestic mainline services not part of hub-to-hub networks. The stated strategy:
- Protect long-haul international trips and the network backbone.
- Absorb cuts primarily on regional/short-haul routes.
The tradeoff on Friday produced a sharp spike in canceled departures and arrivals that would have carried passengers to and from nearby cities. That reduced options for travelers relying on short-hop links for family visits, medical appointments, and work events.
“With the government shutdown exacerbating the air traffic controller staffing shortage, there’s really no other choice so that the safety margin is protected,” said Dennis Tajer, spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association (representing American Airlines pilots).
Tajer’s comment reflected a common operational view: better to make planned cuts early than risk gridlock and rolling delays later in the day.
Inside the terminals: queues, rebooking, and digital tools
From dawn, the effects were visible at O’Hare:
- Passengers queued at airline counters to secure new itineraries, then again at security checkpoints as departure waves bunched up.
- Fliers reported hours-long waits at customer service desks; airline apps and websites carried much of the rebooking load.
- Carriers urged customers to use digital tools to swap flights and posted waiver policies allowing changes without extra fees.
Specific carrier responses:
- Southwest extended flexibility in the Chicago market, allowing free changes or refunds for trips booked through November 12.
- United and American proactively sent notifications to customers on Friday, often reaching phones before travelers reached the queue.
Personal stories and practical steps
For many families, travel plans became a day-by-day exercise in patience. Mary Hahn of Arlington Heights, scheduled to fly to Tampa, said: “Sure hope we get there and back. My husband always travels with at least a month’s worth of prescription meds just in case!”
Her remark highlights a small, practical step frequent travelers use when cancellations and rolling delays threaten plans for work, care, and school breaks.
Airport and airline coordination
Airport officials said they’re working closely with airlines to keep information flowing and move passengers more smoothly as schedules shift.
- The Chicago Department of Aviation described all-hands efforts with federal partners and carriers to manage the surge of schedule changes.
- O’Hare urged travelers to check flight status before leaving home, arrive earlier for busy time blocks, and rely on airline apps for real-time seat maps and boarding updates.
- With concourses full and service counters busy, airline notifications often arrived faster than on-site screens.
How the cancellations unfolded through the day
Cancellations climbed as carriers adjusted schedules to match the controller shortage and the FAA order.
- By midday, enough flights were scrubbed to push Chicago to the top of the national list.
- Afternoon banks brought another wave of adjustments as aircraft and crews fell out of position.
- The pattern: early cancellations to meet the 10% reduction, then additional cuts to cope with staffing gaps and disrupted aircraft rotations.
Some flights departed late; others disappeared after long holds in the rebooking queue.
The domino effect beyond Illinois
Because O’Hare connects much of the country through one airfield, the domino effect spread widely.
- Inbound segments from origin cities were sometimes canceled before passengers even reached Chicago.
- Crews and planes that should have cycled back for evening departures failed to arrive, causing further disruptions.
- The longer the government shutdown persists, the harder it becomes to recover schedules and avoid leaving customers stranded far from home.
Traveler advice and carrier actions
Airlines framed the changes as temporary, safety-first responses and said they expect to restore flights when the FAA lifts the cap.
- Until then, carriers plan to protect international networks and reduce short-haul capacity, especially on routes with multiple daily frequencies.
- Consequences for travelers include fewer seats, longer lines for rebooking, and increased odds of being pushed to the next day.
VisaVerge.com analysis noted that large hub cuts tend to concentrate pain on regional spokes, leaving smaller cities with reduced service options when major airports throttle back.
Carrier tips repeated for those heading to the airport:
- Monitor your flight status.
- Confirm your booking.
- Leave extra time to reach the gate.
- Use the airline mobile app for fastest access to changes, cancellations, or alternate connections.
Front-line workers, unions, and safety considerations
Airline unions and front-line workers urged patience and clarity as the shutdown continues. Many air traffic controllers remain on the job without pay, adding strain to an already demanding role.
- Managers have reshuffled schedules, limited traffic flows, and slowed operations to keep safety margins intact.
- Airlines support these moves and are planning schedules to meet reduced capacity rather than overload an unreliable system.
End-of-day status and outlook
By nightfall, O’Hare’s schedule settled into a slimmer pattern consistent with the FAA order, though backlog from earlier missed flights remained.
- Airlines said they will continue issuing waivers and updates while capacity limits last.
- With the government shutdown unresolved, another day of high cancellations is possible at O’Hare and other major hubs.
For now, travelers are adjusting and hoping the next notification on their phones brings better news.
This Article in a Nutshell
On November 7, 2025, the FAA ordered a 10% reduction in flights at 40 major airports because the government shutdown left many air traffic controllers unpaid and staffing thin. Chicago O’Hare experienced the highest cancellations as carriers protected long-haul and hub-to-hub services and cut regional and short-haul flights. Travelers faced long lines, rebooking delays, and waivers for changes. Airport and airline officials coordinated to manage disruptions, and more cancellations may occur while the shutdown persists.
