Several Southwest flights are being canceled in early November 2025 due to FAA-mandated flight reductions amid ongoing federal government shutdowns and staffing issues with air traffic controllers. Specifically:
- On November 7, 2025 , Southwest announced it was canceling over 120 flights across 34 airports, mainly due to government orders to reduce air traffic.
- For November 8, 2025 , Southwest expected to cancel fewer than 100 flights, with the majority of passengers unaffected, although some disruptions are inevitable.
- The cancellations are part of broader industry impacts, with other airlines like American and United also canceling hundreds of flights over the same period due to the FAA's operational restrictions.
Key details:
- The cancellations primarily affect airports in major regions including New York, California, and others impacted by federal directives.
- Southwest has informed affected passengers they can request refunds or adjust their travel plans without penalty, especially if their bookings are through November 12.
- The FAA's flight restrictions are ongoing, and more cancellations or delays are anticipated if government shutdown issues persist, with some estimates indicating a reduction of 4-20% of flights at affected airports over the coming days.
Overall, the cancellations are directly tied to FAA directives and government shutdown consequences impacting air traffic control staffing.
