Flight cancellations and delays skyrocketed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport during a ground stop ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration Saturday morning.
Staffing shortages prompted the more than hour-long ground stop at airports that also included Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and various cities in Canada, according to the FAA.
At least 127 flights were cancelled at CLT and 190 delayed by 9 a.m., according to FlightAware, the real-time flight tracking site. Delays lept to 252 at 10:30 a.m. By 3:30 p.m., 132 flights were cancelled and 368 delayed.
CLT also is among 40 U.S. airports ordered by the FAA to reduce flights during the federal government shutdown, CLT officials said on social media Friday. The 10% reduction order totals about 180 flights, based on the airport’s roughly 1,800 daily arrivals and departures.
No other airports in the Carolinas made the list.
CLT is the world’s sixth-busiest airport.
The government shutdown is impacting service for many flight providers at Charlotte’s airport. American Airlines is the largest provider of flights at CLT. Chase Jordan cjordan@charlotteobserver.com
“With a prolonged federal shutdown, disruptions become more likely,” CLT officials said in a statement on social media Saturday.
“This morning, CLT experienced staffing constraints in the ATC tower, one of many contributing factors to delays and cancellations within the national airspace system.”
The ground stop lasted from 7:35 a.m. until 8:47 a.m., according to the FAA.
American Airlines, the dominant carrier at CLT, and other airlines directly contacted customers about the delays and cancellations, CLT officials said on social media site X.
Officials reported “no major impacts to airport operations,” although fliers expressed concerns to The Charlotte Observer on Friday about their return flights home.
Airport officials ask for patience
In Saturday’s statement, CLT officials said the airport “has been incredibly fortunate to reach the sixth weekend of the federal shutdown with minimal operational impacts.”
That is due largely “to the continued dedication of our Transportation Security Administration and Air Traffic Control partners, who are working without pay,” airport officials said.
“We ask passengers for patience and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented situation together,” officials said.
Passengers make their way toward the terminal at Charlotte Douglas International Airport amid the government shutdown, which is delaying flights across the country. Chase Jordan cjordan@charlotteobserver.com
This story was originally published November 8, 2025 at 10:20 AM.
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Joe Marusak
The Charlotte Observer
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news.
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