American Cancels Flights From Waco and Killeen Amid Disruptions

(WACO, TEXAS / KILLEEN, TEXAS (REGION)) American Airlines canceled multiple flights from both Waco Regional Airport and Killeen Regional Airport on November 7, 2025, as a nationwide wave of schedule cuts rippled through U.S. air travel. The airline advised affected passengers to rebook or reroute through larger hubs, with travelers in Central Texas told to look at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) or Austin (AUS) as alternatives while regional routes are temporarily suspended.

The cuts are part of a broader disruption affecting hundreds of flights across the United States on major carriers including American Airlines, United, Delta, and Southwest. Airlines have been forced to scale back service after the Federal Aviation Administration moved to implement FAA staffing reductions, a step tied to the ongoing record-length federal government shutdown. With fewer air traffic controllers available and limited capacity in key facilities, carriers are trimming flight counts across dozens of airports to keep the system moving.

While the largest impacts are concentrated at 40 high-traffic airports, the fallout has reached smaller facilities as well. Multiple departures from Waco Regional Airport and Killeen Regional Airport were pulled from schedules, leaving some travelers with last-minute cancellations and long rebooking lines. For many, the fastest path now runs through DFW or AUS, if seats are available and connections align.

American Airlines said passengers with tickets purchased by November 5, 2025, whose trips fall between November 7–14, 2025, are eligible for a waiver of change fees under its travel alert. Travelers can rebook in the same cabin or request a refund for the unused portion of their ticket, according to the airline. Those who plan to change their trip or seek a refund must do so by November 14, 2025, with rebooked travel to be completed within one year of the original ticket date. The airline directed customers to check flight status online or in the app, use the “change trip” option if eligible, or call Reservations for help when self-service options do not resolve their situation.

Behind the sudden schedule shifts is a capacity squeeze at air traffic control facilities. FAA staffing reductions, which the agency tied to the federal government shutdown’s prolonged duration, have limited the number of flights that can be handled safely at peak times. Airlines often respond to such constraints by cutting frequencies, consolidating departures, and prioritizing larger hubs where they can manage connections and crew rotations more efficiently. That leaves regional airports vulnerable to disproportionate cuts; while they see fewer total cancellations than major hubs, even a small number of scrapped departures can strand a high share of the day’s travelers.

In Central Texas, the timing compounds the disruption. With many passengers heading into weekend plans or trying to make connections beyond Texas, cancellations at Waco Regional Airport and Killeen Regional Airport can mean last-minute drives to Dallas or Austin, long holds on customer service lines, and competition for limited seats on remaining flights. American’s travel alert points customers to self-service tools first, but acknowledges that some changes require direct assistance, especially when itineraries involve multiple segments or when the original route is temporarily suspended.

The broader national picture underscores how widespread the problem has become. Hundreds of flights across multiple carriers were canceled as schedules were adjusted, with the most acute cuts at 40 high-traffic airports that anchor domestic networks. Those hubs, known for intense departure banks and tight turnaround windows, are the first to feel strain when air traffic control capacity is limited. As the shutdown persists, airlines have been recalibrating day by day, determining which departures can run and which must be paused to stay within throughput limits.

For travelers, the practical steps remain straightforward but time-sensitive. American Airlines is telling customers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport, act quickly to secure alternate seats if their flight is canceled, and keep documentation for any refunds. The waiver of change fees applies to eligible tickets bought by November 5, 2025, for trips between November 7–14, 2025. Rebooking in the same cabin keeps the fare class consistent, and refunds are available for unused portions when no acceptable alternative is offered or when the traveler chooses not to fly. The airline’s guidance also notes that reissued travel must be completed within one year of the original ticket date, a window that gives some flexibility but still requires careful planning.

Local passengers said they were advised to look at DFW and AUS when regional options fell away, a common tactic during volatile periods. Even with those alternatives, shifts to bigger hubs can introduce new bottlenecks if waves of rebooked passengers descend on the same departure banks. That is why airlines push real-time tools, encouraging customers to lock in new plans through apps or websites before airport lines build. American’s “change trip” feature remains central to that strategy, with Reservations serving as a backstop for complex cases.

The operational logic behind pulling flights from smaller markets during FAA staffing reductions is not complicated: when total throughput is capped, airlines cut the least disruptive number of flights that still preserves as much of the network as possible. That often means consolidating traffic into major hubs where carriers can swap aircraft, rotate crews, and re-accommodate passengers onto multiple alternative flights. For Waco Regional Airport and Killeen Regional Airport, where daily schedules are thinner, the loss of a handful of departures can feel like the loss of a lifeline, even if airlines restore service as soon as capacity improves.

On days like this, the advice from officials and airlines is consistent: check your status often, expect changes, and move quickly on rebooking. Passengers flying out of Waco and Killeen in the coming days should assume plans could shift if the shutdown continues to constrain air traffic control staffing. Some travelers may find that a short drive to DFW or AUS opens more options, while others will prefer to wait for regional service to resume if their trips are not urgent.

Because the situation is fluid and conditions vary by hour and airport, travelers can monitor national airspace updates through the FAA National Airspace System Status, which reflects constraints that can trigger airline schedule adjustments. While the FAA does not set airline policies on refunds or changes, the agency’s capacity measures directly influence how many flights can operate in specific time windows, shaping the cancellations and delays passengers experience.

The airline’s waiver terms are precise and tied to the shutdown-driven disruption window. Passengers who purchased tickets by November 5, 2025, and who are scheduled to travel between November 7–14, 2025, can change plans without a change fee. Those who cannot find acceptable alternatives can seek refunds for any unused portion of their trip. American is steering customers first to its app and website to use the “change trip” option, reminding travelers that not every fare or ticket type qualifies, and that changes must be made by November 14, 2025. For many, the one-year completion rule will dictate whether to rebook soon or hold the value for a later date when schedules stabilize.

At Waco Regional Airport and Killeen Regional Airport, the immediate priority for many travelers is simply getting to their destination on a day of rolling adjustments. With airlines cutting flights across a map of 40 high-traffic airports and beyond, even small markets are pulled into a national puzzle that changes as the shutdown lingers. The hope among passengers and airport officials is that as staffing normalizes, carriers can restore regional frequencies and reconnect communities to the broader network without the uncertainty that marked the day’s travel.

Until then, airlines will continue to balance safety, capacity, and demand, sometimes hour by hour. For Central Texas, that means watching the boards, keeping plans flexible, and being ready to pivot to DFW or AUS if a regional departure drops off the schedule. For American Airlines customers holding tickets within the waiver window, the message is clear: act before November 14, 2025, keep records of any changes, and use digital tools first to find the quickest path back on course.