Flight Cancellations Continue to Pile Up Amid Shutdown
Car rental companies, Amtrak have seen a big boost during the shutdown.
Over 2,000 flights were canceled on Monday as the Schumer Shutdown continues.
According to FlightAware.com, people faced 22,616 delays and 2,708 cancellations.
Chicago O’Hare and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International faced the most problems.
Earlier this morning, President Donald Trump told air traffic controllers to get back to work:
All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially “docked.” For those Air Traffic 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. You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country. You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record. If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind! You will be quickly replaced by true Patriots, who will do a better job on the Brand New State of the Art Equipment, the best in the World, that we are in the process of ordering. The last “Administration” wasted Billions of Dollars trying to fix antiquated “junk.” They had no idea what they were doing! Again, to our great American Patriots, GOD BLESS YOU – I won’t be able to send your money fast enough! To all others, REPORT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. GOD BLESS AMERICA! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 10, 2025
The FAA reduced flights by 10% at 40 airports last Friday.
The reduction will continue, and possibly grow, as the shutdown continues.
Eight Senate Democrats crossed the aisle to end the filibuster on the revised GOP continuing resolution.
I don’t know when the final vote will happen. Some thought it would happen tonight, but I’m not seeing anything so far.
As people grow frustrated, car rental companies have seen a surge in car rentals.
Hertz alone saw a 20% increase. From Fortune:
Amid the latest scramble, Hertz is already reporting a sharp increase in one-way car rentals. One-way reservations have spiked more that 20% through the coming weekend compared with the same period last year, according to the company, which has also pointed to the shutdown’s ongoing strain on travel overall.
“We join the airlines in urging Congress to swiftly pass a clean continuing resolution and restore certainty for travelers,” Hertz CEO Gil West said in a statement. “Every day of delay creates unnecessary disruption.”
Amtrak has also seen growth and predicts record numbers, along with other transportation companies, during Thanksgiving:
The rail service said it began to see those bookings grow before the shutdown began — but told The Associated Press on Thursday that it was also “reasonable to expect an increased share shift to Amtrak” if flight disruptions mount. Amtrak has maintained that its routes are running normally amid the shutdown.
Flix North America, the parent company of FlixBus and Greyhound, is also preparing for more demand.
“Our message is simple: you still have options,” said Kai Boysan, CEO of Flix North America.
Boysan maintained that intercity buses are “one of the most dependable ways to get around” — and not impacted by the shutdown like flights are. “We anticipate more travelers may turn to ground transportation in the days ahead, and we’re monitoring demand closely and prepared to add capacity where needed to ensure people can keep moving,” he added.
A Flix spokesperson said Friday that many of its bookings typically occur within 24 to 72 hours of departure, noting that the company should have a “clearer picture” of the overall impact in the coming days.
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Comments
shutdown ~~~~~ brought to you by obama care
its so affordable you cant pay for it
ATC weenies, this is going on your Permanent Record!
Amtrak? 😂😂😂
When you absolutely positively need to get there… Eventually.
In the United States, railroads are for shipping massive amounts of freight, not people. Period. And I’m tired of pretending otherwise. Want to travel by rail? Either go to work for the Union Pacific Railroad or more to Europe.
As to air travel, putting yourself in a giant coke can traveling at nearly the speed of sound six miles above the earth’s surface is fraught with difficulties. Dimwitted TSA agents, surly airline employees, drunk & disorderly Spirit Airlines passengers all make air travel miserable.
As one wise traveler once said, if my destination is less than 500 miles, I drive. If it’s greater than 500 miles, I drive farther.
Misanthropic mode: Off.
The Air Traffic Control system should be turned over to private contractors. Same for TSA. The US government can focus on upgrading the equipment side. That would be a transfer of over 100,000 employees to the private sector. Win/win
I think keeping them federal is better (can’t believe I’m saying that) but they should be directly funded by the Ports that they serve. Like the Post Office these functions should immune to this stuff.
Privatize both ATC and TSA screening. The Federal Govt can continue to regulate, inspect and enforce compliance. Those costs should be borne by the local airport authority and passed through to airlines via fees. Some or all of those costs will absolutely be passed along to the individuals and companies that utilize air travel or air shipping. That’s exactly how it should be funded, users fees on the folks who use it.