American Airlines Hit by FAA Flight Reductions

American Airlines says it has been forced to cancel around 200 flights after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered airlines to cut schedules due to a shortage of air traffic controllers caused by the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.

 

The airline confirmed that it has reduced its flight schedule by six percent at 40 airports for Tuesday, November 11, following an earlier FAA directive to scale back operations by four percent between November 7 and 10.

“We, like most airlines, are experiencing widespread delays and cancellations across the country today despite the advanced cancellations the FAA required us to make,” the airline said in a statement Sunday evening.

The FAA’s directive aims to maintain safe airspace operations amid nationwide staffing shortages that have worsened during the shutdown. American Airlines said it continues to communicate directly with impacted passengers and has issued a travel waiver to give customers flexibility to change or cancel trips without fees.

“Disrupting customers’ plans is the last thing we want to do,” the airline said. “We are deeply grateful to federal aviation workers who continue working without pay to keep our skies safe. This is unacceptable. We once again urge leaders in Washington, D.C., to reach an immediate resolution to end the shutdown.”

Passengers are advised to check the American Airlines mobile app or aa.com for real-time flight updates and rebooking options.