US Flight Delays, Cancellations Surge Amid 40-Day Government Shutdown

Air travel disruptions worsened across the United States on Sunday as thousands of flights were delayed or canceled, deepening a nationwide aviation crisis caused by the prolonged 40-day government shutdown.

Airlines canceled more than 2,800 flights and delayed over 10,200 others, according to flight-tracking data, the highest number of disruptions since the shutdown began on October 1. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered airlines to reduce daily flights amid growing air traffic control staffing shortages, sparking long delays at airports nationwide.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the situation could deteriorate further as the Thanksgiving travel season approaches.

“It’s only going to get worse. In the two weeks before Thanksgiving, air travel could be reduced to a trickle,” Duffy said during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union.

The government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history, has left thousands of federal employees, including about 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 airport screeners,  working without pay.
The FAA reported staffing issues at 12 air traffic control towers, with retirements rising sharply since the shutdown began.

“Before the shutdown, around four controllers retired daily. Now we’re seeing up to 20 retirements a day,” Duffy revealed.

The FAA mandated a 4% reduction in daily flights at 40 major airports starting Friday, with cuts set to rise to 6% on Tuesday and 10% by November 14 to ensure safety.

Major carriers  including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines have been forced to trim schedules due to the ongoing shortage. United said it would cancel 190 flights on Monday and 269 on Tuesday.

American Airlines urged lawmakers to quickly end the shutdown, warning that “federal aviation workers haven’t been paid and customers have endured thousands of delays and cancellations.”

Industry group Airlines for America estimates that more than four million passengers have been affected since the start of the shutdown, with daily economic losses estimated between $285 million and $580 million.

The U.S. Senate voted late Sunday to advance a bill aimed at reopening the government, though the measure still requires approval from the House of Representatives and a signature from President Donald Trump a process that could take several days.

Duffy said flight restrictions would remain in place until staffing improves and safety metrics stabilize.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz disclosed that pilots have filed more than 500 safety reports related to controller fatigue since the shutdown began.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett warned that the impact on air travel could ripple through the economy.

“Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of the year for spending and travel,” Hassett said on CBS’s Face the Nation.

“If people can’t travel, we could see a negative growth quarter.”

As the standoff drags on, officials warn that flight reductions could soon reach 20%, threatening one of the busiest air travel seasons in the U.S.