Date: 202005
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 5
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; First Officer
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Contributing factors: Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Staffing
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: Taxiing out for takeoff in ZZZ; Ground Control cleared us to taxi to Runway XXL.  One minute later; ATC then said to change runway to XXR.  We; as the crew; accomplished the runway change checklist and got all set for takeoff.  ZZZ Tower cleared us for takeoff on Runway XXR.  As we lined up on the runway; the Captain gave me control of the aircraft.  I advanced the thrust levers and called 'Set Takeoff Thrust.'  Approaching what I believe was the 80 knot call; I heard a transmission from ZZZ Tower saying 'Flight XX Cancel takeoff clearance if able.'  The Captain resumed control of the aircraft and rejected the takeoff.  We stopped on the runway; and turned off and queried ATC as to why we were asked to cancel the takeoff.  We were informed that ZZZ Center was having staffing issues and they didn't want us in the air quite yet.  We as a crew felt that was not an appropriate reason to reject given the phase of flight; and because of this we incurred a 30 minute delay and put excessive wear on the tires and brakes on the airplane.  In the future; I would recommend that staffing issues of an air traffic control facility are not justified causes for rejected a takeoff in a heavy jet airliner and once a takeoff clearance is issued; unless there is an imminent emergency; the takeoff is not rejected.


Second narrative: Approaching 80 kts during the takeoff; ATC said 'Flight AB; if you can; cancel takeoff clearance.'  The 80 knot call was missed and the reject was initiated around 95 knots.  We cleared the runway to the right on XX taxiway and then held on XY taxiway for 20 minutes for the brake temps to decrease from 320 degrees to less than 150 degrees with the fans ON.  As we were waiting; I asked ATC what the reason for the cancellation of the takeoff clearance.  He said ZZZ Center was getting saturated with the current staffing issue.  Runway XXL was closed at our departure time.  We were cleared to cross XXL and cleared for takeoff XXR.  From that clearance to the reject was maybe 2 minutes or so.  While hearing ATC ask us to reject; I didn't know if someone had crossed XXR downfield; were we on fire; was there smoke; was there a vehicle or person on the runway.  Had I known it was for ZZZ Center saturation; I would have elected to continue the takeoff.  Had we continued the takeoff; would we have continued on course; maybe hold or been given vectors; or stay at a lower altitude until ZZZ Center accepted us.  I don't know; but any of those would be a better option than a reject.  If ATC was saturated; whether ZZZ1 or ZZZ Center; having us reject was not the best course of action.  Had we been at a higher speed and still rejected this would have been a lot worse.  Fuse plugs on the mains would have let go causing X flat tires; fire trucks rolled; we'd be unable to clear the runway; and the airport would have closed.  In the future; if Center is busy and we are on the roll; ATC should not ask us to reject our takeoff.


Synopsis: Air carrier flight crew reported that Tower instructed them to abort the takeoff roll which was requested by the ARTCC facility due to traffic and staffing issues and could not yet accept the flight into their airspace.