Nashville travelers scramble amid FAA flight cuts, uncertainty as flights cut nationwide

To get ahead of airport craziness as nationwide flight cuts began Nov. 7, Amanda Lomas arrived as dawn broke to a sleepy Nashville International Airport for her United Airlines flight to St. Louis.

Instead of long lines and hectic masses of travelers scrambling through delays and cancellations, she found short security lines and a quiet airport as federal regulators begin to cut US air traffic down by 10% this week. That number could jump to 20% if the shutdown continues, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Fox News.

"I got an email from the airline saying that this was happening, but not confirming that my flight was good," Lomas said. "So, I'm apprehensive that I'll have a flight coming back."

The Nashville airport is not among major airports that the Federal Aviation Administration is directly impacting right now, according to BNA officials. However, there are still negative effects trickling down from other airports, especially Atlanta, including delayed flights that are Nashville-bound and some cancellations from airlines trying to manage their nationwide networks amid strict FAA requirements.

Glenn Miller, a self-proclaimed frequent flyer, said he's not worried about travel issues, but he could tell other travelers were "panicking" during his recent trip from Boston to Nashville.

"Everybody doesn't like traveling in general and now this time adds stress to most people," he said.

The plan to stabilize the flight industry amid widespread air traffic controller shortages began with a 4% reduction of flights on Nov. 7 to gradually increase to 10% in the following week.

Nashville International Airport travelers line up at Transportation Security Administration lines on Nov. 6, 2025.

How many flights are being delayed and canceled?

On Nov. 7, 276 flights were delayed and 10 were canceled coming and going from BNA, according to FlightAware.

Nationwide, 1,526 flights were cancelled and 24,712 were delayed on Nov. 7.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with our federal partners to ensure the safe and efficient operation of all flights,” Nashville airport officials said in a statement.

Nashville International Airport has just 31 total delays and four cancellations as of 10:20 a.m. on Nov. 7.

Delta Air Lines is the only airline that preemptively cancelled Nashville flights through the weekend, initially cancelling two Nashville flights for Sunday, Nov. 9.

One Tennessean reporter trying to return to Nashville was among hundreds of passengers stranded and delayed at Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, one of many airports affected by the flight reductions that began across the country Thursday, Nov. 6. 

Standing room only could be seen in one of DCA's terminals as crowds built up after repeated flight cancellations and delays. 

The last flight out to Nashville was delayed multiple times.

Passengers report anxious travel amid government shutdown

Kaylea Holland, who traveled to Nashville from Dallas on Nov. 7, by way of St. Louis, arrived at Love Field extra early to combat long lines.

"I showed up early thinking that I would have problems," Holland said. "I was through within five minutes."

Despite a trip with no issues, Holland said there's a lack of clarity among travelers.

"Nobody knows if their flight's getting canceled until, like, right before, so that kind of sucks," she said. "But, you know, luck of the draw at this point."

While flight cancellations begin to climb, Lomas said she would have only considered driving if her flight was cancelled.

"I'm flying because I didn't want to drive, so [a cancellation] would screw it up," Lomas said.

Who's to blame? Travelers look for end to the shutdown

Airports across the nation are struggling with hundreds of delays and cancellations amid an air traffic controller shortage and a record-long government shutdown.

Miller blames "poor government."

"They can't run themselves, the budget should be a standalone budget," he said.

Amid the government shutdown, air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers are receiving no compensation but still work.

"I feel bad for these people not getting paid," Miller said. "They should get paid interest too, when they get backpay."

"Get it together Congress," Miller said.

Hadley Hitson covers business news for The Tennessean. She can be reached at [email protected]. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean.