Air, Forwarding, Freight News


US air shutdown comes to an end

[ November 14, 2025   //   ]

The longest government shutdown in US history has ended after 43 days, following the US administration’s annual wrangling over the Federal budget. The shutdown led to widespread delays and cancellations across the country, as air traffic controllers and other professionals went unpaid.

In a statement welcoming the move American Airlines said however that the last few days of operations had already brought fewer delays and cancellations and that it was well positioned to recover quickly because of operational decisions to minimize disruption. It thanked its customers for their loyalty and patience throughout a challenging period.

The Airforwarders Association (AfA) also welcomed the end of the shutdown, and urged policymakers to reverse flight capacity reductions that caused around 10,000 flights to be cancelled and widespread disruption across the air cargo sector.

AfA said the reopening of government must include immediate steps to reimburse the 1.4 million unpaid federal workers, increase flight capacity, resume export license processing, and restore the stability that businesses and supply chains need.

Executive director, Brandon Fried, said: “We now need a rapid return to predictable operations. Forwarders and their customers have endured weeks of uncertainty, strained service levels, and reduced airport capacity.

“Restoring full staffing and reversing the cuts in flight capacity is essential to keeping cargo moving, protecting economic activity, and ensuring that federal employees who kept working during the shutdown are paid promptly.”

AfA said the escalating reductions in flight capacity highlighted the fragility of the system and the risks posed when key agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), operate with reduced resources.

Fried also called for clear communication on the timeline for reinstating full capacity, noting that forwarders require dependable schedules to meet customer commitments and maintain supply chain integrity.

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