Is the Great Flight Shutdown of 2025 upon us? Minneapolis-St. Paul International is one of 40 airports affected this weekend as the FAA reduces national air traffic amid the government shutdown.
The first MSP cancellations for Friday, as reported by Flight Aware, were focused on smaller regional flights operated by Endeavor Air and SkyWest under the Delta Connection banner. Also among the cancellations were a larger Delta Air Lines flight to Las Vegas and a Southwest Airlines flight to Chicago.
The impact on airline schedules could reverberate beyond this weekend. If you have flying plans in the next few days, here’s what you need to do.
1. Get ready
You don’t need to panic before flight cancellations are announced, but you should be prepared to act. Check your email and your airline’s website for updates or travel waivers. Download your airline’s app, and check your flight status frequently. Search in advance for possible alternate itineraries. Ask yourself how flexible your plans are, and whether you will absolutely need to travel.
Delta Air Lines has updated its travel advisory, allowing passengers booked on any flights through Nov. 14 to rebook their travel. If the rebooked flight begins no later than Nov. 21 in the same cabin of service, Delta will waive the fare difference.
Sun Country Airlines’ website says the airline “will be adjusting our flight schedules beginning Friday, Nov. 7.”
2. Wait and see
Once flight cancellations are announced, you can wait to find out if your flight is affected. If the airline informs you that your flight is indeed canceled, it may offer an alternate flight. If that works for you, you can take it.
If you decline the alternative arrangements, you are entitled to a full refund — in money — regardless of the reason for the cancellation. The refund must be issued to your credit card within seven days (usually, it is sooner) or within 20 days for other payment methods. Passengers who receive a significant schedule change of more than three hours are also entitled to a refund.
