The U.S. air travel system has been thrown into unprecedented chaos as the government shutdown—now in its sixth week—continues to ripple across the nation’s airports, airlines, and even the broader economy. On Sunday, November 9, 2025, travelers experienced the worst day for air travel since the shutdown began more than 40 days ago, with 3,400 flights canceled and nearly 11,000 delayed, according to FlightAware. By 7 a.m. CST Monday, November 10, airlines had already canceled more than 1,700 additional flights, with another 1,000 delayed, painting a grim picture for anyone hoping to get off the ground.
The shutdown, which began on October 1 after Congress failed to pass funding for the 2026 fiscal year, has left around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA agents working without pay. Many controllers have taken sick leave or even second jobs to make ends meet, straining airport operations further. On Thursday, November 6, several air traffic controllers were notified they would receive no pay for a second pay period, meaning another missed paycheck on Monday, November 10.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been frank about the deteriorating situation. "I think it’s only going to get worse. We have some controllers who are new controllers. We have trainee controllers who are very helpful in the tower. They don’t make a lot of money, and they’re now confronted," Duffy told reporters, describing the impossible choices facing unpaid federal workers. Duffy added, “They haven’t had a paycheck in over a month. They’re confronted with the decision: do I put food on my kids’ table, do I put gas in the car, do I pay my rent, or do I go to work and not get paid.”
To manage the crisis, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has slashed air traffic by 10% at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports. Carriers were ordered to reduce operations by at least 6% by Tuesday, November 12, and the full 10% by the end of the week, as reported by The Washington Post. The move has led to cascading delays and cancellations, with major hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport reporting 338 delays (33% of scheduled flights) and 199 cancellations (19%) on November 9. New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport saw 296 delays (45%) and 57 cancellations (8%) that same day. The FAA even issued a ground stop at Nashville International Airport due to staffing shortages, halting inbound flights for several hours.
Private jets have not escaped the fallout. The FAA issued a new order Monday restricting private and business jet flights at 12 of the busiest U.S. airports to ease pressure on air traffic control. Ed Bolen, President and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association, said, “Today, further restrictions were announced that will effectively prohibit business aviation operations at 12 of those airports, disproportionately impacting general aviation—an industry that creates more than a million jobs, generates $340 billion in economic impact, and supports humanitarian flights every day.”
Hawaii’s Department of Transportation has requested an exemption from the mandated flight cuts, citing the state’s unique reliance on air travel for economic stability, medical access, cargo movement, food security, and national defense. As Thanksgiving approaches, industry leaders warn that continued disruption could have a far greater impact on the aviation system and the economy at large.
The economic implications are already mounting. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned on ABC’s "This Week" that the shutdown could make the U.S. economy "get worse and worse" as the holiday season approaches, potentially affecting Christmas. “Cargo and people are both being slowed down here. And that’s for safety’s sake,” Bessent said. He noted that about 10% of U.S. cargo moves by air, and delays could lead to shortages in the supply chain. White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told Fox News that the shutdown could shave one to one and a half percentage points off fourth-quarter GDP, though he stopped short of predicting a recession. “If we had two or three more weeks, especially if it ran into Thanksgiving, we probably would have had a negative quarter,” Hassett said.
Industry insiders are feeling the pain. American Airlines Chief Operating Officer David Seymour called the widespread flight disruptions “simply unacceptable” in a memo to employees, as reported by Business Insider. “This weekend’s operation was incredibly challenging for our industry, for our customers, for our airline and for you, our team members,” Seymour wrote. He urged government leaders to “reach a deal immediately,” but warned that “the next several days will continue to be challenging.”
The human cost is perhaps most visible in the stories of those on the front lines. A pilot’s in-flight announcement at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport went viral after he urged passengers to call their senators about the shutdown. “I don’t really care what your political persuasion is, but you should really call your senator,” he said, explaining that the delays were costing airlines millions and passengers hours of their lives. “There are 30 planes in front of us on the runway,” he added, highlighting the gridlock.
Stephen Abraham, a retired air traffic controller, told Fox News that the FAA’s move to cut traffic by 10% is just a “Band-Aid” to prevent a meltdown. “It doesn't solve the crisis, it just prevents a complete meltdown,” Abraham said. He emphasized the fatigue and stress controllers are under, noting, “If you don't sleep real well, I'm not going to work the next day ... You can't mail it in. It just doesn't work in that profession. You can't mail it in… every day has to be an ‘A’ day. You don't get ‘B’ days.”
The political blame game is in full swing. The Republican Study Committee accused Democrats of using the shutdown as “political leverage against the American people,” while Transportation Secretary Duffy accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of “playing politics.” Schumer, for his part, blamed Republicans for the impasse, stating on X that “the ball is in their court.”
Despite the partisan sniping, there were signs of hope late Sunday night as eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans to advance a House-passed short-term funding bill by a 60-to-40 vote, which could reopen the government as soon as this week. The bill would restore pay for federal workers and reverse mass firings. President Trump signaled his support, saying, “We’re going to be opening up our country.”
Still, experts caution that the recovery will not be immediate. Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group, told USA Today that “there’s going to be extensive disruption across the entire nation’s air transportation system” even after the shutdown ends. Airlines will need time to rebuild schedules and reposition aircraft and crews, meaning backlogs and thousands of canceled flights won’t be resolved overnight.
With Thanksgiving just two weeks away and the holiday travel rush looming, the nation’s air travel system—and the millions who depend on it—are holding their breath for a resolution. For now, the only certainty is more turbulence ahead.
