The FAA said a temporary telecommunications outage affected multiple air traffic control centers.
- Domestic Departures: Flights are resuming but will be limited tonight because many crews have reached their maximum duty hours or need to reposition aircraft.
- International Flights: Departures from U.S. coastal hubs have resumed. Inbound flights may still be held at origin, delayed, or diverted as airport operations normalize.
- Cancellations: Some airlines have canceled the rest of tonight’s flights and some Saturday flights to get crews and aircraft back in position.
- Recovery: Recovery will vary by airline and station. Backlogs and disruptions are likely to continue through the weekend. Customers are advised to confirm their flight status before tendering cargo.
Expeditors will issue further updates if conditions change significantly.
Please contact your local Expeditors representative for shipment-specific guidance.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a nationwide ground stop on November 13 for all departing flights at U.S. airports “due to extraordinary circumstances and for reasons of safety.” Aircraft already in the air are continuing to their destinations. Inbound international flights are being handled case by case. The FAA has not said when departures will resume.
Current Status
- Domestic departures: All flights leaving U.S. airports are held on the ground until further notice. This includes freighters.
- Inbound international: Flights are being managed case by case. They may be held at origin, delayed, or diverted.
- Cause: The FAA has not confirmed a cause at the time of posting.
Expected Shipment Impact
Shipments moving to, from, or through the U.S. should expect:
- Export: departures delayed or canceled, and cargo rolled to later flights
- Import: inbound international flights held at origin, delayed, or diverted
- Transit: missed connections at U.S. hubs, including for flights that left their origin on time
- Recovery: a backlog that continues after departures resume, with schedule disruption likely through the weekend
- Capacity: airlines may apply booking restrictions or cut capacity in the short term while they reposition aircraft and crews
Recommended Actions
- Allow extra transit time on all U.S.-linked air shipments.
- Flag urgent or time-sensitive shipments to Expeditors right away so they can be reprioritized.
- Expect late changes to flight schedules and cargo acceptance times.
Expeditors Response
Expeditors is monitoring FAA advisories and coordinating with airlines and terminal operators across the Americas. We are tracking affected shipments and reviewing recovery options. We will issue updates as the FAA releases more information.
Please contact your local Expeditors representative for shipment-specific guidance.
