FAA Orders Capacity Cuts at 12 Major Hubs as Controller Shortage Triggers 1,500+ Flight Cancellations

On November 10, 2025, the FAA directed airlines to slash daily operations by up to 10% at 12 major hubs including O'Hare, JFK, and LAX, after air traffic controllers — working without pay for weeks during the 43-day shutdown — began calling out sick. Over 1,500 flights were canceled that day, with 2,950 the day prior, making it the worst disruption since the shutdown began October 1.