Flight Delays and Airport Impacts: November 6, 2025

Published on Nov 6, 2025, 8:25 am CST

5 min read

Key points

FAA plans a 10 percent capacity reduction at 40 high volume airports beginning Friday with some effects starting today
ATCSCC planning shows probable ground stops or delay programs at LaGuardia, San Francisco and possible actions at Seattle, Newark, Boston, Washington National and JFK
Wind and low ceilings are the primary operational constraints while severe thunderstorms are not forecast today
Runway and taxiway work continues at multiple hubs including Houston Intercontinental, Orlando, Boston and San Francisco which can compound delays

Impact

Airports To Watch: New York area, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston Intercontinental, Boston and Washington National show the highest risk of programs later today
Connections: Add 60-90 minutes for tight connections at major hubs and avoid last-bank connections if possible
Waiver Windows: Monitor airline advisories and app notifications for no-fee rebooking or refunds as carriers respond to FAA-directed capacity cuts
Flight Selection: Prefer earlier departures, nonstop options and larger hubs with multiple frequencies to preserve recovery options
Arrive Early: Allow additional time at check in and security at constrained hubs as schedule trims ripple through airport operations

The Federal Aviation Administration is moving to reduce scheduled capacity by up to 10 percent at 40 "high-volume" U.S. markets, a safety-first step tied to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Agencies and airlines signaled that some effects could begin today ahead of a Friday ramp-up, which means travelers may encounter longer taxi-out times, ground delay programs and rolling metering at key hubs on November 6, 2025. Atlanta, Boston, the New York area, Chicago, Los Angeles and other large nodes are on the list, with international flights initially exempt. Travelers should build larger buffers for connections and watch airline apps for rebooking options as plans finalize.

What changed and why it matters

In a late-Wednesday briefing, officials outlined a phased cut that starts around 4 percent and works toward 10 percent to lower controller workload while staffing remains strained. ABC published the airport list including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), all three New York airports, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and more. For travelers, fewer available slots mean tighter operations and less slack to absorb weather or equipment hiccups, so minor issues can cascade into meaningful delays.

FAA plan for today

The Air Traffic Control System Command Center's operations plan for Thursday flags several likely initiatives. LaGuardia may see a ground stop or ground delay program after 1:00 p.m. ET, with similar actions probable at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) later in the afternoon. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Boston Logan, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) are possible candidates for programs as winds, low ceilings and sector staffing triggers line up through the day. Expect miles-in-trail restrictions and routing in the Northeast as winds squeeze runway configurations.

Runway and taxiway projects continue to reduce flexibility at several fields, including IAH (RWY 08R/26L closed), Orlando International Airport (MCO, RWY 18R/36L closed), BOS (RWY 09/27 closed), SFO (Taxiway Z rehab) and others. Construction does not cause delays by itself, but when combined with wind and low ceilings, it limits options to keep traffic flowing.

Latest developments

Newsrooms and local airport authorities have begun publishing airport-specific updates. ABC's national list confirms the 40 markets targeted for reductions, while local outlets report airline flexibility and city-by-city implications. For example, Orlando officials and media note MCO is among the airports reducing daily flights, and several airline statements indicate refunds and rebooking options as capacity trims are applied. Check your airline's travel advisory page and enroll in push notifications for flight-specific guidance.

Analysis

Weather picture

Severe thunderstorms are not expected today, which lowers the risk of widespread convection-driven disruptions. However, wind and low ceilings on both coasts remain the main operational pinch points, particularly for airports that require paired runways for peak arrival rates. In Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, lingering low ceilings and marine stratus can depress arrival rates at SFO and SEA during the afternoon push even as yesterday's storm energy eases. In the Northeast, gusty winds are driving single-runway operations at times, which triggers metering and potential GDPs.

$How it works

A ground delay program, GDP, meters arrivals into a constrained airport by assigning controlled departure times from origin airports. This protects runway and sector throughput and reduces airborne holding. When staffing is the constraint, FAA can also apply miles-in-trail spacing and reroutes to keep controller workload within safe limits. The temporary 10 percent market-level capacity cuts add another layer, shrinking the schedule baseline so fewer flights press against those bottlenecks. Today's plan shows how these tools stack: wind or low ceilings reduce usable runways, staffing triggers limit sector throughput, then GDPs and spacing absorb the remainder.

Practical choices for travelers

If you are booked through the late-afternoon banks at the airports flagged above, consider moving to an earlier departure or a nonstop to protect connections. Build at least 60-90 minutes of extra time for inter-terminal transfers at big hubs and avoid last-flight-of-the-day connections to smaller cities. Airlines are already signaling flexibility, including refunds and fee-free changes in some cases; use official airline channels rather than third-party apps to preserve benefits.

Final thoughts

FAA capacity trims and routine November weather are combining to reduce operational slack at major hubs today. Watch for afternoon GDPs at LaGuardia and San Francisco, possible actions at Seattle, Newark, Boston, Washington National and JFK, and plan conservative buffers. Staying on top of airline advisories and opting for earlier, nonstop flights will minimize the risk of misconnects as Flight Delays and Airport Impacts evolve through November 6, 2025.