How the 2025 government shutdown affected flights
LaGuardia (LGA) had the largest increase in the departure cancellation rate from 1 October 2025 to 12 November 2025: 3.98% cancelled (663 of 16,661), 3.47 points above the same dates in 2024 (0.51%).
Across the 39 airports together, the cancellation rate was 1.46% against 0.79% on the same dates in 2024 (+0.67 points) and 0.55% in the 28 days before 1 October 2025. The delay rate was 22.20% against 14.18% in 2024.
Source: DelayGuard analysis of US DOT/BTS data, 1 October 2025 to 12 November 2025, compared with 1 October 2024 to 12 November 2024.
How did the shutdown affect flights?
32 of these 39 airports were on the FAA's 7 November 2025 list of 40 high-impact airports. The other 7 are in DelayGuard's airport set and were not on that list.
The first table is the appropriations-lapse window. H.R. 5371 failed in the Senate on 30 September 2025 and was signed on 12 November 2025 as Public Law 119-37. The FAA's later cancellation order says controllers worked without pay from 3 October 2025 to 12 November 2025, so the unpaid window starts two days after this table.
Share of completed departures with ArrDel15 = 1 (arrived 15 or more minutes late). Cancelled and diverted flights are excluded. Cancelled departures divided by scheduled departures. Diverted flights remain in the denominator.
| LaGuardia (LGA) | 1 | 3.98% | 0.51% | +3.47 | 16,661 | 35.91% | 10.45% | +25.46 | 0.94% | 18.05% | Yes |
| Newark (EWR) | 2 | 3.29% | 0.91% | +2.38 | 14,729 | 32.55% | 16.51% | +16.04 | 1.19% | 17.23% | Yes |
| JFK | 3 | 2.42% | 0.48% | +1.94 | 12,342 | 28.14% | 10.07% | +18.07 | 0.79% | 18.74% | Yes |
| Logan (BOS) | 4 | 2.45% | 0.59% | +1.86 | 17,118 | 27.92% | 12.50% | +15.42 | 1.44% | 25.03% | Yes |
| Reagan National (DCA) | 5 | 2.08% | 0.54% | +1.54 | 16,975 | 25.84% | 11.50% | +14.34 | 0.88% | 22.54% | Yes |
| O'Hare (ORD) | 6 | 1.75% | 0.35% | +1.40 | 42,558 | 26.29% | 13.63% | +12.66 | 0.43% | 21.20% | Yes |
| Sea-Tac (SEA) | 7 | 1.55% | 0.38% | +1.17 | 18,832 | 17.00% | 15.48% | +1.52 | 0.29% | 17.21% | Yes |
| Burbank (BUR) | 8 | 1.75% | 0.73% | +1.02 | 3,651 | 21.47% | 16.63% | +4.84 | 0.60% | 14.45% | No |
| Sky Harbor (PHX) | 9 | 1.31% | 0.32% | +0.99 | 23,203 | 22.57% | 15.06% | +7.51 | 1.16% | 16.60% | Yes |
| San Diego (SAN) | 10 | 1.99% | 1.05% | +0.94 | 11,979 | 22.71% | 25.57% | -2.86 | 1.44% | 17.94% | Yes |
| Atlanta (ATL) | 11 | 1.59% | 0.66% | +0.93 | 37,665 | 19.79% | 11.13% | +8.66 | 0.07% | 13.86% | Yes |
| Detroit (DTW) | 12 | 1.30% | 0.38% | +0.92 | 14,866 | 17.55% | 11.00% | +6.55 | 0.19% | 13.16% | Yes |
| Ontario (ONT) | 13 | 1.25% | 0.40% | +0.85 | 3,124 | 18.83% | 12.09% | +6.74 | 0.54% | 14.63% | Yes |
| Midway (MDW) | 14 | 1.56% | 0.73% | +0.83 | 8,754 | 20.36% | 11.29% | +9.07 | 0.07% | 16.34% | Yes |
| SFO | 15 | 1.10% | 0.31% | +0.79 | 17,534 | 21.23% | 15.78% | +5.45 | 0.26% | 17.57% | Yes |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | 16 | 1.55% | 0.80% | +0.75 | 9,449 | 21.78% | 13.69% | +8.09 | 0.44% | 17.15% | Yes |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | 16 | 1.05% | 0.30% | +0.75 | 22,110 | 17.66% | 13.01% | +4.65 | 0.29% | 13.84% | Yes |
| Minneapolis (MSP) | 16 | 1.08% | 0.33% | +0.75 | 13,136 | 15.70% | 9.46% | +6.24 | 0.11% | 14.62% | Yes |
| Oakland (OAK) | 19 | 1.19% | 0.45% | +0.74 | 3,793 | 19.84% | 13.05% | +6.79 | 0.32% | 17.29% | Yes |
| Salt Lake (SLC) | 20 | 0.95% | 0.25% | +0.70 | 13,480 | 14.09% | 11.21% | +2.88 | 0.19% | 11.95% | Yes |
| Harry Reid (LAS) | 21 | 0.98% | 0.36% | +0.62 | 21,349 | 22.80% | 16.16% | +6.64 | 0.54% | 21.24% | Yes |
| Sacramento (SMF) | 22 | 1.02% | 0.42% | +0.60 | 6,772 | 18.45% | 13.31% | +5.14 | 0.38% | 15.09% | No |
| John Wayne (SNA) | 23 | 0.99% | 0.41% | +0.58 | 5,370 | 18.18% | 14.14% | +4.04 | 0.57% | 14.66% | No |
| Cincinnati (CVG) | 24 | 1.48% | 0.99% | +0.49 | 3,975 | 19.53% | 11.00% | +8.53 | 0.61% | 14.67% | Yes |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | 25 | 1.25% | 0.77% | +0.48 | 12,273 | 23.82% | 12.99% | +10.83 | 0.55% | 18.15% | Yes |
| Dulles (IAD) | 26 | 1.00% | 0.54% | +0.46 | 6,669 | 16.83% | 8.94% | +7.89 | 0.27% | 13.54% | Yes |
| San Jose (SJC) | 27 | 0.87% | 0.50% | +0.37 | 5,295 | 17.98% | 14.53% | +3.45 | 0.54% | 14.47% | No |
| DFW | 28 | 1.56% | 1.27% | +0.29 | 37,080 | 24.53% | 18.53% | +6.00 | 1.82% | 21.52% | Yes |
| Love Field (DAL) | 29 | 1.34% | 1.07% | +0.27 | 8,372 | 23.55% | 17.58% | +5.97 | 0.14% | 17.89% | Yes |
| Charlotte (CLT) | 30 | 0.89% | 0.67% | +0.22 | 22,159 | 19.58% | 16.85% | +2.73 | 0.39% | 15.52% | Yes |
| Hobby (HOU) | 30 | 1.08% | 0.86% | +0.22 | 6,663 | 22.86% | 14.30% | +8.56 | 0.12% | 13.10% | Yes |
| Houston Intercontinental (IAH) | 32 | 0.68% | 0.48% | +0.20 | 14,216 | 20.97% | 15.03% | +5.94 | 0.21% | 14.34% | Yes |
| Austin (AUS) | 33 | 0.70% | 0.65% | +0.05 | 10,718 | 24.58% | 14.41% | +10.17 | 0.42% | 15.93% | No |
| Miami (MIA) | 34 | 1.41% | 1.37% | +0.04 | 12,084 | 22.87% | 13.27% | +9.60 | 0.36% | 21.66% | Yes |
| St. Louis (STL) | 34 | 0.72% | 0.68% | +0.04 | 7,645 | 21.24% | 11.70% | +9.54 | 0.34% | 16.31% | No |
| San Antonio (SAT) | 36 | 0.66% | 0.70% | -0.04 | 5,002 | 16.68% | 12.59% | +4.09 | 0.58% | 14.34% | No |
| BWI | 37 | 0.91% | 1.09% | -0.18 | 11,483 | 19.19% | 12.95% | +6.24 | 0.17% | 14.84% | Yes |
| Denver (DEN) | 38 | 0.75% | 1.16% | -0.41 | 37,719 | 18.38% | 18.62% | -0.24 | 0.13% | 21.03% | Yes |
| Orlando (MCO) | 39 | 1.32% | 5.50% | -4.18 | 18,380 | 25.41% | 11.98% | +13.43 | 0.22% | 15.58% | Yes |
What happened while the FAA flight-reduction order was in effect?
On 6 November 2025 the FAA announced a reduction at 40 airports, starting at 4% of daily scheduled domestic operations on 7 November and described as rising to 10% on 14 November. A 12 November order, effective 6:00 a.m. on 13 November, set the requirement at 6%. On 14 November the FAA lowered it to 3%, effective 6:00 a.m. on 15 November. The order ended at 6:00 a.m. Eastern on 17 November 2025. International flights were not required to be cut. The 6 November announcement said airlines would have to issue full refunds and would not have to cover secondary costs.
| Newark (EWR) | Yes | 10.81% | 0.72% | +10.09 | 28.70% | 26.88% | +1.82 | 3,452 |
| LaGuardia (LGA) | Yes | 9.29% | 0.15% | +9.14 | 39.97% | 10.34% | +29.63 | 3,864 |
| O'Hare (ORD) | Yes | 7.62% | 0.15% | +7.47 | 27.31% | 13.10% | +14.21 | 9,681 |
| Midway (MDW) | Yes | 7.77% | 0.36% | +7.41 | 21.20% | 8.26% | +12.94 | 1,841 |
| Reagan National (DCA) | Yes | 7.06% | 0.15% | +6.91 | 29.98% | 10.97% | +19.01 | 3,883 |
| JFK | Yes | 6.52% | 0.03% | +6.49 | 31.75% | 7.56% | +24.19 | 2,870 |
| San Diego (SAN) | Yes | 6.86% | 0.38% | +6.48 | 25.15% | 14.97% | +10.18 | 2,798 |
| Atlanta (ATL) | Yes | 6.53% | 0.09% | +6.44 | 22.20% | 11.95% | +10.25 | 8,820 |
| Logan (BOS) | Yes | 6.46% | 0.08% | +6.38 | 26.31% | 8.83% | +17.48 | 3,793 |
| Cincinnati (CVG) | Yes | 5.71% | 0.19% | +5.52 | 19.23% | 11.26% | +7.97 | 911 |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Yes | 5.57% | 0.13% | +5.44 | 25.72% | 9.68% | +16.04 | 2,513 |
| Detroit (DTW) | Yes | 5.50% | 0.14% | +5.36 | 24.07% | 7.48% | +16.59 | 3,348 |
| Oakland (OAK) | Yes | 5.21% | 0.19% | +5.02 | 17.38% | 10.46% | +6.92 | 863 |
| Hobby (HOU) | Yes | 5.25% | 0.27% | +4.98 | 19.42% | 12.44% | +6.98 | 1,523 |
| Sky Harbor (PHX) | Yes | 5.32% | 0.34% | +4.98 | 21.63% | 11.88% | +9.75 | 5,586 |
| Miami (MIA) | Yes | 4.93% | 0.17% | +4.76 | 26.00% | 12.38% | +13.62 | 3,125 |
| Minneapolis (MSP) | Yes | 4.77% | 0.09% | +4.68 | 14.91% | 7.73% | +7.18 | 2,998 |
| Philadelphia (PHL) | Yes | 4.67% | 0.28% | +4.39 | 24.14% | 9.68% | +14.46 | 2,506 |
| BWI | Yes | 4.54% | 0.16% | +4.38 | 18.97% | 10.57% | +8.40 | 2,555 |
| Ontario (ONT) | Yes | 4.74% | 0.53% | +4.21 | 19.80% | 11.04% | +8.76 | 738 |
| Salt Lake (SLC) | Yes | 4.54% | 0.34% | +4.20 | 12.00% | 11.29% | +0.71 | 3,125 |
| Orlando (MCO) | Yes | 4.50% | 0.33% | +4.17 | 27.34% | 12.17% | +15.17 | 4,426 |
| SFO | Yes | 4.41% | 0.25% | +4.16 | 24.46% | 15.78% | +8.68 | 4,013 |
| Sea-Tac (SEA) | Yes | 4.27% | 0.24% | +4.03 | 16.68% | 13.05% | +3.63 | 4,189 |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Yes | 4.26% | 0.25% | +4.01 | 20.95% | 11.08% | +9.87 | 5,122 |
| Harry Reid (LAS) | Yes | 4.14% | 0.39% | +3.75 | 22.33% | 13.92% | +8.41 | 4,957 |
| Sacramento (SMF) | No | 3.92% | 0.32% | +3.60 | 17.84% | 13.42% | +4.42 | 1,581 |
| Dulles (IAD) | Yes | 3.73% | 0.26% | +3.47 | 21.99% | 11.88% | +10.11 | 1,529 |
| Burbank (BUR) | No | 4.21% | 0.98% | +3.23 | 15.53% | 14.82% | +0.71 | 878 |
| Charlotte (CLT) | Yes | 3.29% | 0.07% | +3.22 | 20.35% | 15.69% | +4.66 | 5,008 |
| Love Field (DAL) | Yes | 4.44% | 1.32% | +3.12 | 18.37% | 14.37% | +4.00 | 1,916 |
| San Jose (SJC) | No | 2.71% | 0.50% | +2.21 | 17.64% | 12.05% | +5.59 | 1,218 |
| St. Louis (STL) | No | 2.28% | 0.17% | +2.11 | 18.43% | 10.31% | +8.12 | 1,707 |
| John Wayne (SNA) | No | 2.55% | 0.50% | +2.05 | 20.24% | 13.11% | +7.13 | 1,257 |
| Houston Intercontinental (IAH) | Yes | 2.13% | 0.16% | +1.97 | 23.02% | 14.36% | +8.66 | 3,336 |
| DFW | Yes | 3.76% | 2.03% | +1.73 | 20.09% | 16.55% | +3.54 | 8,269 |
| Austin (AUS) | No | 1.96% | 0.44% | +1.52 | 24.21% | 15.13% | +9.08 | 2,451 |
| San Antonio (SAT) | No | 1.73% | 0.54% | +1.19 | 14.60% | 10.39% | +4.21 | 1,153 |
| Denver (DEN) | Yes | 3.75% | 3.47% | +0.28 | 13.83% | 25.17% | -11.34 | 8,416 |
What to know if there's another shutdown
On 2 September 2026 the President signed H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027. The White House said it provides fiscal year 2027 appropriations through 11 December 2026.
In the 2025 lapse, the combined cancellation rate at these 39 airports was 1.46% (8,385 of 575,183 departures), 0.67 points above the same dates in 2024. The delay rate was 22.20%, 8.02 points above 2024. The 28 days before the lapse, 3–30 September 2025, had a cancellation rate of 0.55% and a delay rate of 17.59%.
That is a description of 2025, not a forecast for a later funding date. Airports on the 2025 reduction list are marked in the table. This page does not say which airports a future order would include.
Informational only. This is not legal advice.
Download the table
The CSV matches the table in its published rank order.
Cite this
DelayGuard, "How the 2025 government shutdown affected flights," https://www.delayguard.ai/research/government-shutdown-flight-delays-2025, analysis of US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics On-Time Reporting data, 1 October 2025 to 12 November 2025. Generated 2026-10-20.