Government Shutdown Sparks Air Travel Concerns Amid Predictions of Chaos

Wed Nov 05 2025 04:24:54 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warns of potential flight disruptions and chaos in the skies if the government shutdown persists, particularly if air traffic controllers miss their paychecks.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has raised alarms about severe disruptions in air travel if the government shutdown continues and air traffic controllers miss additional paychecks. The situation has been exacerbated by existing delays across U.S. airports, with major airlines pleading for Congress to resolve the shutdown before the busy Thanksgiving travel season.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted Tuesday that there could be chaos in the skies next week if the government shutdown drags on and air traffic controllers miss a second paycheck.

There have already been numerous delays at airports across the country— sometimes hours long—as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) slows down or halts traffic due to a shortage of controllers. For instance, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey recently experienced multiple hours of flight delays.

Duffy and the head of the air traffic controllers' union have both warned that the issue will worsen as the shutdown prolongs and financial pressure mounts on employees forced to work without pay. With FAA employees having already missed a paycheck on October 28, the situation becomes increasingly critical as their next payday approaches on Tuesday.

“Many of the controllers said ‘A lot of us can navigate missing one paycheck. Not everybody, but a lot of us can. None of us can manage missing two paychecks,’” Duffy explained. “If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos. You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it without the necessary air traffic controllers.”

While most flight disruptions thus far during the shutdown have been isolated and temporary, further widespread delays could prompt Congress to reach a resolution to end the shutdown. Major airlines, alongside aviation unions and the travel industry, are advocating for Congress to resolve the situation swiftly, especially with the busy Thanksgiving travel season approaching.

The U.S. Travel Association stated that the economy has already suffered losses exceeding $4 billion due to the shutdown, with predictions of worsening impacts if the stalemate lasts into the holiday season. They emphasized that continued disruptions in air travel will be deeply felt by millions of travelers and could devastate local economies.

As of mid-Tuesday, FlightAware reported 1,932 flight delays across the U.S., while staffing shortages continued to affect operations at airports like Phoenix. Both air traffic controllers and the union have urged staff to remain committed to their work amidst the challenging circumstances.