Air Travel Woes in the U.S. as Government Shutdown Persists

Mon Nov 10 2025 14:19:07 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The ongoing U.S. government shutdown continues to disrupt air travel, leading to thousands of flight cancellations and significant delays as air traffic controllers remain unpaid.

The federal government shutdown is severely impacting air travel across the U.S., with airlines canceling over 4,500 flights within a few days. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated a reduction in air traffic by 4%, a figure expected to increase as the number of available air traffic controllers dwindles due to ongoing unpaid work. The situation may worsen as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, with potential cuts reaching up to 20%. The shutdown poses a threat to the safety and efficiency of air travel, as airports and airlines struggle to adjust amid the staffing crisis.

NEW YORK (NEUTRALECHO) — The struggles Americans are enduring at airports nationwide are projected to escalate this week if Congress fails to agree on a resolution to reopen the federal government.

During the weekend, U.S. airlines were forced to cancel more than 1,500 flights on Saturday and over 2,900 on Sunday due to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directive aimed at reducing air traffic in light of air traffic controllers, many of whom have been unpaid for almost a month, opting not to report for duty.

As of early Monday, airlines had already canceled nearly 1,600 flights for the day and almost 1,000 for Tuesday, signaling a continued trend of disruption as the Senate attempts to negotiate a resolution to the government shutdown. While progress has been made, final approval may still take several days, and experts warn that getting flight schedules back to normal will take additional time even after the government reopens.

Airports in major cities including Newark, Orlando, Chicago, and Detroit are experiencing significant delays, with waits for departures increasing beyond an hour, as per FlightAware updates.

This marks the second consecutive pay period where air traffic controllers have not received compensation for their work. Nick Daniels, leader of the controllers' union, plans to address the growing crisis in a press conference scheduled for Monday.

The future looks bleak as the FAA implements a mandatory reduction in flights, which will climb to 6% on Tuesday and 10% by the upcoming weekend. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated on Fox News Sunday that flight cuts could eventually reach 20%.

As the shutdown persists, air traffic controllers are increasingly opting for expedited retirements, driving staffing levels lower. Duffy stated that fewer controllers are showing up for work daily, worsening the current flight disruptions.

With air travel expected to surge during the upcoming holiday season, officials are alarmed that the situation could deteriorate as Thanksgiving approaches, leading to what Duffy described as a potential reduction in air travel to a trickle.

The implications of continued flight reductions are profound, particularly at 40 of the busiest and most congested airports in the U.S., necessitating the FAA's actions to ensure safety amidst mounting overtime and workload pressures for remaining staff.

As countless travelers plan to take to the skies during the holidays, decisive action to resolve the governmental impasse is critical to restoring the air travel system to its full capacity.