Airlines across the United States have cancelled more than 3,300 flights as concerns mount that air travel could “slow to a trickle” due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The mass cancellations on Sunday followed a 40-day funding impasse in Congress, which left federal agencies operating without new appropriations. As negotiations stretched on, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last week ordered a phased reduction in air traffic after reports surfaced that controllers were suffering fatigue and failing to report for duty.
More than 13,000 air traffic controllers, deemed “essential” workers, have continued to work without pay since the shutdown began on October 1. The strain has grown visible, with travel disruptions escalating each day.
On Sunday alone, over 3,300 flights were cancelled and another 10,000 delayed. The day before saw 1,500 cancellations, following about 1,000 on Friday. Under the FAA’s current plan, domestic flights were cut by 4% starting Friday morning and will face deeper reductions—6% by Monday, 8% by Thursday, and 10% by Friday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the shutdown continues, air travel could grind to a near halt by Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel periods in the U.S. calendar. “It doesn’t get better—it gets worse until these air traffic controllers are paid,” Duffy said, noting the growing risk of widespread travel paralysis as families prepare to travel for the holiday.
Last year, an estimated 80 million Americans travelled during the Thanksgiving season, with airports screening a record 3.09 million passengers on the Sunday following the holiday.
As fears of nationwide travel chaos mounted, the Senate announced a compromise deal late Sunday night to temporarily restore funding for government operations through the end of January. The measure passed a key procedural vote, with moderate lawmakers from both parties supporting its advancement.
The funding plan still requires final approval from both chambers of Congress and the president’s signature before the shutdown can officially end. It remains unclear, however, how quickly flight operations will return to normal once funding resumes, as the FAA stated that any decision to lift restrictions would depend on safety data and staffing stability.
Some aviation analysts believe the disruptions will ease quickly once controllers begin receiving pay again, while others suspect the flight restrictions might also be a political move intended to increase pressure on lawmakers to resolve the crisis.
For now, travelers across the United States are being urged to brace for longer delays, cancellations, and limited flight availability as the shutdown continues to ripple through the nation’s air transport system.
