Stillwater travelers face delays as FAA cuts flights nationwide

Stillwater air travelers are experiencing cascading delays and cancellations as a Federal Aviation Administration directive to reduce flights amid a government shutdown ripples through regional airports, with local residents reporting hours-long waits and late arrivals.

Flight 5397, an American Eagle service from Dallas-Fort Worth to Stillwater, landed more than two hours behind schedule at 1:05 a.m. Friday, according to FlightAware, marking the latest disruption for travelers connecting through one of the nation's busiest hubs.

The delays come as the FAA directed airlines Thursday to reduce scheduled flights by four percent at 40 major airports through Monday in response to air traffic control staffing shortages caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown.

In a statement released Thursday evening, American Airlines said the directive amounts to "about 220 flights canceled each day" while the carrier continues to operate around 6,000 daily flights.

"Due to the ongoing government shutdown and nationwide air traffic control staffing shortages, the FAA directed airlines to reduce schedules to maintain safe airspace operations," the airline said.

Stillwater resident Udaya DeSilva was among those aboard Friday's delayed flight after returning from a work trip to Pennsylvania.

"When I landed, the American App said the flight was delayed by two hours to just past midnight," DeSilva said. "It got delayed again to 1:17 a.m."

He said the airline "changed the terminal twice past midnight when there was hardly any flights going in and out."

While waiting, DeSilva tracked the aircraft's movements using the FlightAware app.

"My airplane left on time to Baton Rouge, La., and was stuck there for several hours before it returned to Dallas to continue to Stillwater," he said. "It landed around 1:05 a.m. and they turned it around in about 20 minutes with a new crew."

On Facebook Friday morning, DeSilva shared how the delay affected his personal plans.

"I was supposed to get back at 10:30 p.m. yesterday night to celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary," DeSilva wrote. "My flight landed at 2:30 a.m. this morning instead. Had to be debriefed by both the dog and wife and finally got to bed at 3 a.m."

Pattern of disruptions

DeSilva's experience mirrors disruptions other Stillwater travelers faced in recent weeks as weather and operational issues compounded delays through Dallas-Fort Worth.

Stillwater resident Terri Collier encountered similar problems Oct. 25 when her afternoon flight from Stillwater Regional Airport was delayed, forcing her to reroute through Oklahoma City to reach Destin, Florida.

"That morning I get up and we're getting ready to leave at two o'clock from Stillwater on that Saturday and they cancel our flight," Collier said. "Well they say it's delayed to like 4:30. Well we had a flight to meet in Dallas at 5:15."

After rebooking through Oklahoma City, Collier faced a cascade of gate changes and delays at Dallas-Fort Worth, where severe weather and operational issues created hours-long waits.

"They changed the gate but American didn't tell me," she said. "I'm standing there at the gate trying to get on to this plane that I thought I was supposed to be on at the proper gate and the guy goes no you're at the wrong gate now."

Collier said she counted 11 delays before finally securing a hotel room near midnight rather than continuing to wait at the airport.

"The worst thing about the delays is that you know how their gates are so far apart," she said. "We had to walk 10 or 20 minutes between gates every time we had one of those changes."

While weather played a significant role in her October delays, Collier said the lack of communication from the airline added to passenger frustration.

"I was just sad that I had to change because I really do like our airport," she said. "I kind of throw it more on American's (Airlines) craziness that was going on."

Local operations unaffected by cuts

The City of Stillwater emphasized that Stillwater Regional Airport remains fully staffed and operational despite the nationwide disruptions.

In a news release Thursday, Airport Director Kellie Reed said the FAA's move "is intended to ease pressure on the national aviation system and maintain safety, which is the FAA's top priority." She encouraged travelers "to stay informed so they can plan ahead to support a smooth travel experience."

Stillwater Regional Airport operations continue normally Thursday as construction progresses on a new terminal building. The existing terminal (top left) and air traffic control tower remain fully staffed despite nationwide flight disruptions at major hubs. Construction of the new terminal (top right) is underway with a substantial completion date of July 26, 2026. Airport Director Kellie Reed emphasized that local operations are unaffected by Federal Aviation Administration directives reducing flights at 40 major airports. – Photo by Chris Peters

The release noted that Transportation Security Administration and air traffic control operations in Stillwater remain normal and fully staffed, though passengers "are encouraged to check with their airline or travel provider for the latest updates on flight status, schedule modifications, or potential cancellations."

During her October travels, Collier said a TSA agent at Oklahoma City confirmed staffing remained steady despite the shutdown.

"I said I appreciate you guys coming in to help us you know because knowing this guy's not paid but he's there helping me and he goes, 'oh yeah we're not impacted by it,'" she said. "He goes, 'every one of our staff's here today.'"

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Airline urges federal leaders to find resolution

American Airlines said it has issued a travel waiver to provide flexibility during the disruption period, allowing customers whose flights are canceled or who choose not to travel to change flights or request refunds without penalty.

"Disrupting customers' plans is the last thing we want to do," the airline said in its statement. "We are continuing to communicate with impacted customers. We encourage everyone to check their flight status on aa.com or the mobile app."

The airline also called on federal leaders to resolve the government shutdown.

"We're deeply grateful to federal aviation workers who continue working without pay to keep our skies safe," the statement said. "This is unacceptable. We, once again, urge leaders in Washington to reach an immediate resolution to end the shutdown."

While Stillwater's airport operations are unaffected, travelers connecting through Dallas-Fort Worth — one of the 40 hubs under federal flight limits — may continue to experience disruptions as airlines adjust schedules through Monday.

For DeSilva, the experience highlighted how regional travelers remain vulnerable to disruptions at major hubs.

"Since I started in small college-town airports going out and returning, TSA and security was no issue," he said. "It's when I got back to DFW that everything started to pile up."

🔗 American Airlines Travel Alerts and Waiver Information