Air Travel Disruption Grows as Government Shutdown Persists

Mon Nov 10 2025 14:12:02 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

American airports are facing increasing delays and flight cancellations as the government shutdown continues, affecting travel plans nationwide.

U.S. airlines have seen significant disruptions with over 1,500 flights canceled on Saturday and 2,900 on Sunday due to an FAA order linked to unpaid air traffic controllers. Nearly 1,600 additional flights were canceled for Monday, and significant delays are reported at major airports as air traffic controllers continue to limit their presence at work due to the ongoing government shutdown. Congress is struggling to reach an agreement to end the shutdown, raising concerns about a potential impact on holiday travel.

NEW YORK (PulseWire) — The increasing pain at American airports is set to escalate this week, with more disruptions anticipated if Congress fails to reach an agreement to end the federal government shutdown.

More than 1,500 flights were canceled by U.S. airlines on Saturday and over 2,900 on Sunday, a response to an FAA order designed to manage air traffic as air traffic controllers—who have not received paychecks for nearly a month—have begun skipping work. Early Monday reports logged around 1,600 canceled flights for the day and nearly 1,000 for Tuesday.

The Senate began the process of addressing the shutdown with a vote on Sunday, but experts warn that even if a deal is reached, normal flight schedules will take time to resume. Airports around the country, including Newark, Orlando, Chicago, and Detroit, are already grappling with significant delays exceeding an hour for flights that remain operational.

This ongoing shutdown marks the second consecutive pay period for air traffic controllers without compensation. In response to the crisis, Nick Daniels, head of the air traffic controllers union, is expected to hold a press conference Monday morning to discuss how the shutdown is impacting staff.

The current situation has triggered the FAA to impose a 4% reduction in flight traffic this past weekend, with plans to increase this to 6% by Tuesday and a potential 10% reduction over the coming weekend. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated that cuts might need to intensify, possibly reaching up to 20% if the staffing issues remain unresolved.

As controllers continue to leave their posts due to financial strain, the air traffic system—a concern for safety during this peak travel period—faces mounting pressures. The government has experienced sustained shortages of controllers, and actions taken during this shutdown could lead to a situation where air travel is reduced to a mere trickle by Thanksgiving week if not addressed swiftly.