A political standoff in Washington has spilled into America’s airports, triggering one of the worst nationwide travel disruptions in years. As the U.S. federal government shutdown drags into its second week, the aviation system is straining under the pressure. Thousands of flights have been delayed or canceled, air traffic control towers are operating with skeleton crews, and Transportation Security Administration checkpoints are slowing to a crawl.

Jump to: Shutdown Flights Nationwide • Why It Matters • Massive Delays • FAA and TSA Crisis • Travelers Losing Confidence • Economic Fallout • FAQ

TL;DR

  • Nearly 12,000 flights delayed and about 200 canceled nationwide as the U.S. government shutdown enters its second week.
  • FAA and TSA staffing shortages leave control towers and security lines severely understaffed.
  • The disruption is costing the U.S. travel economy over $1 billion per week.
  • Traveler confidence plunges amid long lines, cancellations, and uncertainty.
  • Industry leaders urge Congress to reach a funding deal before the holiday travel season worsens the crisis.

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Shutdown Grounds Flights Nationwide

The ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown is wreaking havoc on air travel, causing widespread disruption at airports nationwide.

In just the past few days, nearly 12,000 flights have been delayed and around 200 canceled as critical staffing shortfalls hit the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Air traffic controllers and TSA officers – required to work without pay during the shutdown – are increasingly calling in sick, leaving skeleton crews to manage soaring demand. The result: mounting flight delays, jam-packed security lines, and frustrated travelers scrambling to rearrange plans.

Travelers line up at a TSA security checkpoint during the first day of the U.S. government shutdown at Hollywood Burbank Airport in California. With more airport staff absent and control towers even going dark in some places, scenes of long lines and grounded flights are becoming increasingly common.

Why It Matters

This shutdown-induced travel turmoil has far-reaching implications beyond just inconvenience at the airport. Traveler confidence is being fractured – both leisure tourists and business road-warriors are second-guessing trips amid the chaos.

The timing couldn’t be worse: the disruption is undermining peak travel windows, from the busy fall corporate travel season to upcoming holiday periods when demand is usually high. Moreover, the ongoing upheaval is costing airlines and service providers dearly.

Industry groups estimate the shutdown is bleeding roughly $1 billion per week from the U.S. travel economy as airlines, airports, hotels and local businesses lose out on revenue. In short, a prolonged shutdown threatens to leave lasting scars on America’s travel industry at large.

Massive Delays and Cancellations Sweep Airports

Flight delays have been snowballing as the shutdown drags on. On Monday alone, more than 6,000 U.S. flights were delayed as major airports from New York to Los Angeles struggled with staffing shortages.

By mid-week, the total delays neared 12,000, with hundreds of flights canceled outright. The FAA has resorted to slowing air traffic into certain airports and even temporarily closing control towers to maintain safety amid reduced staffing.

In one striking example, Hollywood Burbank Airport’s control tower went unstaffed for several hours this week due to a lack of air traffic controllers, forcing flights to be managed remotely by another facility.

Other airports like Nashville saw ground stops and multi-hour delays as they handed off flights to backup centers when local staff ran thin.

While officials insist the airspace remains safe, the day-to-day flying experience is increasingly chaotic – characterized by last-minute schedule changes, extended wait times, and uncertainty for travelers.

FAA and TSA Staffing Crisis Deepens

At the heart of the turmoil is a growing staffing crisis at the agencies that keep air travel running. Air traffic controllers (FAA) and airport security screeners (TSA) are considered “essential” workers, meaning they must continue to work through the shutdown – but without pay until funding is restored.

As the impasse in Congress stretches on, morale is plummeting among these workers. Many are burning out or seeking other income to get by, which translates to more absences on the job.

Transportation officials report a noticeable uptick in sick calls from controllers barely a week into the shutdown , and the pattern is expected to worsen if paychecks don’t resume soon.

TSA officers face similar strains, raising fears of longer airport security lines if more staff stay home. “When shutdowns linger, those now unpaid workers tend to show up less,” noted U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, adding that some have even turned to gig work like driving for Uber to make ends meet.

The cascading effect is fewer eyes on radar screens and baggage x-ray machines, stretching the remaining staff dangerously thin. As one aviation expert warned, travelers will begin to see an “erosion of service” as fatigued controllers and agents drop out – a scenario already unfolding faster in this shutdown than in the last major one in 2019.

Travelers Losing Confidence and Changing Plans

For passengers, the uncertainty in the air has become a serious deterrent to travel. Worried about getting stuck in airport gridlock or sudden cancellations, many travelers are preemptively altering plans. “Travelers are starting to cancel trips and avoid airports until U.S. lawmakers find a way to reopen the government,” Reuters reports.

Travel agents are fielding frantic calls from clients anxious about upcoming vacations: at least a few have even debated canceling Thanksgiving or Christmas trips far in advance rather than risk holiday disruption.

Some frequent fliers are opting to drive or video-conference instead of flying. “I canceled a business trip and will not fly until the stalemate is resolved,” one traveler explained, citing recent bad luck with delays. The jitters extend overseas as well – tour operators say some foreign tourists are hesitating to book U.S. trips, concerned about what the shutdown means for entry and transit.

All of this amounts to a hit on future travel demand: if flyers big and small lose confidence that the system will run smoothly, they’re more likely to stay home or choose other destinations. That lost demand could take months to recover even after the government reopens.

Economic Fallout and Calls for Action

Beyond the headaches for travelers, the shutdown’s aviation woes are delivering a heavy economic blow. Airlines, airports, and a web of travel-related businesses are absorbing the costs of disrupted operations and weaker demand.

By one estimate, the shutdown has already inflicted over $1 billion in lost revenue and economic activity in its first week. And with each additional week, another ~$1 billion could vanish from the U.S. tourism economy. “This shutdown is doing real, irreversible damage,” warns Geoff Freeman, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “Travelers are facing longer TSA lines and flight delays. Airports are reducing flights and we’ve seen entire control towers go dark.”

The longer the impasse continues, industry leaders caution, the worse the cascade of damage will be – for local communities, for small businesses and for the country.

Facing these mounting stakes, virtually all major travel industry voices are urging an end to the shutdown. Associations from airline trade groups to travel agent societies have pressed Congress to reach a funding deal, emphasizing that the nation’s transportation infrastructure is at risk.

Even as some airlines report minimal immediate impact on their operations so far , the broader concern is about long-term reputational harm to U.S. travel. Each day of disruption drives home the message that the country’s aviation system can be knocked off balance – a message that could send international visitors and tourism dollars elsewhere.

With a busy holiday season on the horizon, the pressure is on lawmakers to resolve the budget stalemate. Until they do, travelers and businesses across the nation’s sprawling travel ecosystem are left to navigate an unprecedented storm of delays, uncertainty, and growing costs.

FAQ

How many flights have been delayed so far?
Nearly 12,000 flights nationwide have faced delays and around 200 have been canceled since the shutdown began.

Which airports are hit hardest?
Major hubs including New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles have experienced the longest delays due to reduced FAA and TSA staffing.

Are air traffic controllers still working?
Yes. They are considered essential employees but are working without pay, which has led to burnout and higher absenteeism.

When could normal operations resume?
Flight operations are expected to stabilize only once Congress passes a funding deal and workers receive back pay.