U.S. government shutdown halts air travel, over 3,300 flights canceled

International Desk | PNN

The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has caused widespread disruption in air travel. On Sunday, more than 3,300 flights were canceled across the country, and nearly 10,000 flights were delayed.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the shutdown continues, air travel during the Thanksgiving holiday could be “virtually paralyzed.” He added, “As long as air traffic controllers are unpaid, the situation will only worsen.”

The government shutdown has entered its 40th day. While Republicans and Democrats remain at an impasse over the budget bill, the two parties reached a temporary funding agreement Sunday night, expected to keep the government running until the end of January.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last week ordered a reduction in air traffic because many air traffic controllers had been unpaid and were going on breaks. About 13,000 air traffic controllers have been performing “essential duties” without pay since October 1.

FAA said that from Friday morning, domestic flights were reduced by 4 percent. From Monday, the rate will rise to 6 percent, on Thursday 8 percent, and by Friday 10 percent.

During Thanksgiving week 2024, nearly 80 million people traveled in the U.S. On the post-holiday Sunday alone, 3.09 million passengers were screened at airports, setting a single-day record. If the shutdown continues, this year’s travel chaos could worsen significantly.

FAA stated that flight reductions were based entirely on safety data. However, many analysts suspect it may be an “intentional restriction” to create political pressure.

Aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia said, “If workers actually stop working due to non-payment, the situation will normalize once the shutdown ends. But FAA has not yet released safety data, which further increases public suspicion.”

Meanwhile, although the Senate approved preliminary passage of the funding bill with a 60-40 vote, it still requires House approval and President Donald Trump’s signature to take effect. Until then, air travel in the U.S. will remain limited.