Summary: After 42 days, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history has ended, but air travel disruptions are expected to continue. Flight reductions remain in place due to ongoing staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, and the industry braces for a challenging holiday travel season. Efforts to modernize the system and increase staffing are underway, but recovery will take time.
The Shutdown Ends, But Challenges Remain
On Wednesday night, Congress approved a funding bill that officially ended the 42-day government shutdown, the longest in American history. The shutdown affected many aspects of daily life, with government workers either furloughed or working without pay. One of the hardest-hit sectors was air travel, where already overworked and understaffed air traffic controllers took sick days to pursue additional income opportunities.
According to FlightAware data, Sunday saw nearly 3,000 flight cancellations and 11,229 delays within, into, or out of the United States—numbers comparable to the impact of a light snowstorm.
Flight Reductions to Stay Until Safety Is Assured
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had mandated flight reductions across 40 major airports, starting at 4% on Friday and increasing to 6% by Tuesday, to address safety concerns stemming from air traffic controller understaffing. Without a funding deal, cancellations were expected to rise to 10% by Friday, with potential reductions up to 20% warned by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Despite the shutdown ending, these flight reductions will remain in place until the safety threat is resolved. “We’re going to wait to see the data on our end before we take out the restrictions in travel,” Duffy said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Efforts to Bring Air Traffic Controllers Back
The decision to maintain flight reductions depends largely on how quickly air traffic controllers return to work. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford reported that 20-40% of controllers at the 30 largest airports were not showing up for work last week.
There are positive signs, however. Duffy noted, “Today is a good sign.” Air traffic controllers will receive 70% of their back pay within 24-48 hours of the government reopening, with the remaining 30% arriving about a week later.
Additionally, a Monday night post on Truth Social by President Donald Trump mentioned the possibility of $10,000 bonuses for controllers who worked without pay during the shutdown, though it remains uncertain if such bonuses will be awarded.
The Impact on Holiday Travel and Beyond
Even after flight reductions are lifted, travelers should expect ongoing disruptions. With Thanksgiving just two weeks away—a period expected to see record travel of around 31 million passengers—the air travel industry is preparing for a challenging holiday season.
“We are preparing for record Thanksgiving travel, with some 31 million passengers expected, and the busy shipping season is coming up,” said Airlines for America in a statement. “However, airlines cannot flip a switch and resume normal operations immediately after a vote—there will be residual effects for days.” Flights operate on tight schedules that coordinate aircraft and crew locations, so one cancellation can cascade into widespread delays.
Addressing the Air Traffic Controller Shortage
The shutdown exacerbated an existing shortage of air traffic controllers. Prior to the shutdown, the FAA was already facing staffing challenges amid concerns about air travel safety, highlighted by incidents such as the fatal collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet in Washington D.C. earlier this year.
The Department of Transportation is working to modernize the air traffic control system and increase staffing, but the shutdown has set back progress. Duffy shared that while four controllers used to retire daily before the shutdown, that number has now risen to 15-20.
“Long after you all finish covering the shutdown, we are going to be stuck dealing with this problem. We are about 2,000 controllers short, trying to make up that difference,” he said.