MSP flight cancellations climb to close to 100 as government shutdown drags on

Delays and cancellations continued to affect flights in Minnesota as a federal mandate to slow airline traffic remained in place.

Airlines canceled 97 flights at the Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport as of Sunday evening and delayed around 280 more, according to the flight tracking platform FlightAware.

Lines for TSA checkpoints hovered at five minutes or less Sunday morning.

FlightAware estimated 47 flights were canceled already for Monday.

Such delays and cancellations continue to grow as MSP passengers navigate an unprecedented reduction in air traffic.

The Federal Aviation Administration directed airlines across the nation to slash 4% of their flights to relieve pressure on overtaxed air traffic controllers affected by the federal government shutdown, which started Oct. 1 and is now the longest in U.S. history. FAA officials expect airlines to cut a tenth of their domestic flights by Nov. 14 if the shutdown continues

Delta airlines extended their travel waiver by five days in response, allowing Delta flyers to rebook without paying the fare difference. At least 40 major airports are affected by the directive, including MSP, where many travelers witnessed delays, fewer federal workers and growing uncertainty.

Desmond Johnson flew Frontier from North Carolina to Minneapolis on Friday for his friend’s wedding, and the 27-year-old said he almost missed his connecting flight after his flight from Charlotte was delayed by 45 minutes.

“I actually had to run to make it. I just barely made it getting to my connecting flight, but thank God I did,” Johnson said. “I keep checking my email to make sure my flight [back] isn’t canceled ... But if it does, hopefully we get something booked.”

The trade group Airlines for America said more than 3.5 million people have experienced delays or cancellations since the shutdown began, adding that the ongoing situation is “not sustainable.”

Airlines shared tips with people preparing to travel ahead of this holiday season, advising that travelers be prepared, watch the status of their flight, and act ahead of time when possible.