America’s Air Travel Chaos Deepens Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown
It’s been another rough day for air travelers across the United States. Nearly 900 flights were canceled early Wednesday, and more than 1,600 others were delayed — a situation that’s been unfolding for days as the federal government shutdown drags into its sixth week. Major airports like Chicago O’Hare, Denver, and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson are leading the list of cancellations, leaving passengers stranded or scrambling to rebook.
What’s happening isn’t just bad weather or technical issues — this is the visible toll of the government shutdown, which has left federal aviation operations stretched thin. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently ordered airlines to scale back flight schedules by up to 10% across 40 major airports. The reason? Severe staffing shortages among air traffic controllers and related safety personnel. Many of these workers have been unpaid for more than a month, with some forced to call out due to exhaustion or financial stress.
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According to data from FlightAware, over 10,000 flights have been canceled nationwide since the FAA’s reduction orders began on November 7. That means more than 5 million passengers have been affected by either delays or cancellations since October 1, when the shutdown first started. For a system that typically handles nearly two million passengers daily, the disruption has been massive.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned earlier this week that unless the government reopens soon, the problems could grow even worse — potentially grounding entire fleets. He explained that even after a deal is reached, it could take at least a week for air travel operations to stabilize and return to normal schedules.
Airlines have already begun to adjust in anticipation of continued disruptions. Chris Sununu, president of Airlines for America, said carriers will likely reduce flights by another 8% to 10% by Friday unless they receive updated FAA guidance. That’s a significant move ahead of the busy Thanksgiving holiday period, traditionally one of the most crowded travel times in the U.S.
While the House of Representatives was expected to vote on ending the shutdown Wednesday night, the damage has already been felt nationwide. The FAA’s limits at 40 major airports — from New York and Los Angeles to Atlanta and Chicago — have choked the flow of air traffic, affecting both commercial and private aviation. The daily economic loss, according to airline industry estimates, ranges from $285 million to as much as $580 million.
For now, travelers are being urged to brace for continued turbulence, both in the air and in Washington. Even if the shutdown ends in the coming days, the ripple effects on air travel will likely linger through next week. As one aviation official put it — “The skies won’t clear overnight.”
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