Political Stalemate in Washington Grounds US Flights

NAIROBI—A protracted political standoff in the United States has triggered a crisis in its aviation sector, with major airlines cancelling hundreds of flights daily starting Friday, 7 November 2025. The move follows a directive from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reduce air traffic at 40 of the nation's busiest airports. The cuts are a direct response to a critical shortage of air traffic controllers, who, as federal employees, have been working without pay during a government shutdown that has now become the longest in US history at 37 days.

US carriers, including Delta, United, and Southwest, have confirmed significant reductions. On Thursday, Delta announced it would cancel 170 flights on Friday, Southwest planned to cut 120, and United said it would reduce its schedule by 4% through the weekend. Aviation analytics firm Cirium estimated the total impact could reach 1,800 flights and over 268,000 passenger seats daily, creating what officials warn could be a "cascade of scheduling issues and delays" nationwide.

Ripple Effects Threaten Kenya-US Travel and Trade

While the FAA has stated that the directive does not mandate cuts to international flights, the severe disruption at key American travel hubs is expected to have a significant knock-on effect for Kenyan travellers and exporters. Kenya Airways operates a crucial direct daily flight from Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)—one of the 40 airports subject to the flight reductions.

Passengers arriving on this flight, or connecting through other affected hubs via partner airlines like Delta, could face substantial delays, missed connections, and logistical chaos. The list of impacted airports includes major gateways for Kenya-US travel such as Washington Dulles (IAD), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL), and Chicago O'Hare (ORD).

The disruption also poses a threat to Kenya's vital horticulture and textile exports, which rely heavily on timely air freight to the US market. Any significant delays could lead to financial losses for Kenyan businesses, compounding existing challenges in the sector. The United States is a primary market for Kenyan goods and one of its largest sources of international tourists, making smooth air connectivity a critical economic lifeline.

An Aviation System Under Strain

The root of the crisis is the US federal government shutdown, which began on 1 October 2025, due to Congress's failure to pass a budget. This has left thousands of essential federal workers, including air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, working without pay. Officials have warned that the strain of working without paychecks is leading to increased absenteeism, creating the staffing shortages that the FAA is now trying to manage by reducing flight volumes.

The FAA's plan involves a phased reduction, starting at 4% on Friday and potentially increasing to 10% by mid-November if the shutdown continues. "We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely," FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement on Thursday.

For now, travellers heading to the US are advised to check their flight status continuously with their airlines. While international flights remain officially scheduled, the widespread domestic turmoil makes delays and cancellations a significant possibility for anyone flying into or through the United States. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has not yet issued a specific advisory regarding the US disruptions but maintains that Kenyan airspace remains safe and efficiently managed.