U.S. Air Travel Faces Major Disruptions Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

Mon Nov 10 2025 00:33:42 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As the government shutdown extends, air traffic in the U.S. may significantly decline, especially with the approaching Thanksgiving holiday. Transportation officials warn of potential chaos at major airports.

The U.S. air travel system is bracing for severe disruptions as the ongoing government shutdown hampers operations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that air traffic could 'slow to a trickle' during the busy Thanksgiving holiday as staffing shortages lead to increased flight cancellations and delays. The Federal Aviation Administration has begun imposing flight cuts, affecting major airports as air traffic controllers go unpaid and increasingly absent from work.

WASHINGTON (RTW) — The ongoing federal government shutdown is threatening to cripple air traffic in the U.S., with implications that could disrupt travel plans for millions during the busy Thanksgiving holiday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has raised concerns that air traffic might drastically decline, warning that operations could 'slow to a trickle' as the situation continues.

Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated flight reductions at several major airports after air traffic controllers, who have not received paychecks for nearly a month, began skipping work. The initial cuts of 4% commenced on Friday and are set to rise to 10% by November 14, impacting all commercial airlines during peak hours from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time.

As of Sunday afternoon, over 1,700 flights were reported canceled and nearly 5,000 delays documented, according to FlightAware. Significant cancellations were noted at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta with 173 cases, followed closely by Newark Liberty International Airport with 115 cancellations.

Delays, particularly at Newark and LaGuardia Airport, have reached an average of 75 minutes due to staffing shortages. Duffy has warned that if the shutdown persists and controllers continue to work unpaid, flight cuts might extend up to 20%. 'More controllers aren’t coming to work day by day, the further they go without a paycheck,' he expressed on 'Fox News Sunday.'

On the ground, airports like Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport showed signs of disturbance with mostly empty terminals and minimal wait times at security checkpoints. However, disruption loomed with substantial flight cancellations overwhelming the departures and arrivals boards.

Duffy presented a grim outlook for travelers, indicating that chaos could intensify as Thanksgiving approaches. With only a handful of controllers operational, travelers might face 'massive disruption' and widespread cancellations.

Airlines for America, a trade group representing U.S. carriers, highlighted that air traffic control staffing-related delays hit 3,000 hours on Saturday alone, accounting for the highest rate of disruption throughout the shutdown. Over 4 million passengers have been affected from October 1 to November 7 due to controller shortages. Duffy emphasized that the flight cancellations were not a political maneuver but a necessary measure to ensure safety amidst increasing strain on the system.