From O’Hare to DFW: What It’s Like Flying During the FAA’s 10% Flight Reduction

CHICAGO — Nearly 1,000 flights were canceled across the U.S. on Saturday after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines to trim schedules amid the ongoing federal shutdown.

At O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 3, the scene was unusually quiet — the Transportation Security Administration PreCheck line stood empty except for me. O’Hare and Chicago Midway International Airport are among 40 major airports subject to the cutbacks, according to the FAA.

My own itinerary included a flight from O’Hare to Hollywood-Burbank Airport in California, with a connection at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, another hub affected by the reductions. The plane departed on time, though we waited about 20 minutes for take-off — reportedly due to air-traffic control coordination delays.

While my journey went smoothly, others were not so fortunate. At the gate, I overheard a passenger say she’d been re-booked three times and still didn’t expect to reach her destination until Monday.

Upon arrival in Dallas, we found our gate blocked by another plane, delaying our onward trip. I raced via tram from Gate C-24 to A-10 and barely boarded my next flight — arriving just one minute before the boarding door closed.

Thinking of flying? Here’s why you might want to reconsider

Though my outbound and return legs passed without incident, the disruption is far from isolated. Airlines such as Delta Air Lines reported major operational breakdowns, with more than 540 cancellations in a single day, according to Thrifty Traveler.

The FAA’s emergency order calls for a phased reduction in domestic flights at high-volume airports — beginning with a 4 percent cut-back Friday and reaching 10 percent by Nov. 14 — because of staffing shortfalls and fatigue among unpaid air-traffic controllers working during the shutdown, according to Reuters.

Even if the government reopens soon, the ripple effects could linger for weeks, according to the Associated Press.

For travelers, the message is clear: monitor flight status closely, allow extra connection time, and have contingency plans.