American Airlines COO Blasts Flight Cancellations as “Simply Unacceptable” Amid Shutdown Chaos

American Airlines Chief Operating Officer David Seymour condemned the wave of flight cancellations that has disrupted U.S. air travel, calling the situation “simply unacceptable” in a memo sent to employees Monday morning. The comments come as the ongoing government shutdown—now the longest in U.S. history—continues to cripple air traffic control operations nationwide.

In the letter, Seymour acknowledged the mounting frustration among travelers and employees after a weekend of unprecedented flight disruptions. “I won’t mince words: This weekend’s operation was incredibly challenging for our industry, for our customers, for our airline and for you, our team members,” he wrote. American Airlines reported nearly 1,400 cancellations and more than 57,000 minutes of delays over the weekend, impacting approximately 250,000 customers.

“This is simply unacceptable, and everyone deserves better,” Seymour continued. “Our air traffic controllers deserve to be paid, and our airline needs to operate with the predictability and dependability that no major carrier was able to provide the flying public this weekend.”

Shutdown Fallout Intensifies

The widespread flight cancellations stem from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) emergency order requiring airlines to reduce flight operations by up to 10% at 40 major airports due to severe staffing shortages among unpaid air traffic controllers. The cuts, which began last week at 4%, are scheduled to escalate through November 14 if the government remains closed.

Many controllers, who have now gone more than 40 days without pay, are calling in sick or seeking alternative employment, worsening delays and forcing airlines to cancel thousands of flights. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Sunday that “a substantial number” of Americans may see their Thanksgiving travel plans disrupted if the shutdown continues.

“Virtually none of them can miss two paychecks,” Duffy told CNN’s State of the Union. “They’re being forced to consider side jobs just to make ends meet.”

American Airlines Urges Swift Government Action

In his memo, Seymour said American’s leadership team is in regular contact with federal officials and is “urging them to reach a deal immediately.” He cited signs of “concrete progress” in ongoing negotiations but cautioned that “the next several days will continue to be challenging.”

The Senate reached an initial agreement Sunday night to fund several key government programs, including food assistance, but the legislation still needs full debate and passage in both chambers before the shutdown can officially end.

Amid the growing tension, former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to propose a $10,000 bonus for air traffic controllers who continue to work despite not being paid, while suggesting pay cuts for those who have called out sick.

Industry-Wide Disruptions

Air travel chaos continued through the weekend, with the FAA reporting thousands of cancellations and delays across major hubs such as Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The disruptions have affected nearly every U.S. airline, though carriers with extensive domestic networks—like American, Delta, and Southwest—have been hit hardest.

American Airlines, the nation’s largest carrier by fleet size, has struggled to maintain schedule reliability amid the cascading operational impacts. Seymour emphasized the dedication of frontline employees working through the crisis: “Our team members have continued to deliver under extraordinary pressure. Your professionalism and commitment have not gone unnoticed.”

While negotiations in Washington continue, the FAA’s mandated flight reductions remain in effect. Industry analysts warn that unless a resolution is reached soon, the U.S. aviation system could face its most severe operational strain since the early pandemic.

Seymour closed his memo with a message of solidarity to employees: “We will get through this together. But our customers—and all of you—deserve better. We need our government to do its part so that we can do ours.”

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com