Hundreds of thousands of travellers faced flight delays and cancellations on Sunday, marking the worst disruption since the U.S. government shutdown began. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that conditions could worsen ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Airlines cancelled over 2,800 flights and delayed more than 10,200 on Sunday, the third consecutive day of government-mandated flight reductions due to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, who have not been paid for weeks amid the 40-day shutdown.
“It’s only going to get worse… In the two weeks before Thanksgiving, air travel will be reduced to a trickle,” Duffy told Newsmen. Millions typically travel during the lead-up to Thanksgiving, which falls on November 27 this year.
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The U.S. Senate voted to advance a bill to end the shutdown late Sunday. Shares of major carriers rose in premarket trading on Monday, with United Airlines up 1.9%, Delta and American Airlines up 1.4%, and Alaska Air up 1%. However, the bill must still pass the House and receive President Donald Trump’s signature, a process that could take several days.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instructed airlines to cut 4% of daily flights at 40 major airports starting Friday, with reductions rising to 6% on Tuesday and 10% by November 14. Many airlines, including United, have already scheduled cancellations in the coming days.
FAA staffing issues now affect 12 air traffic control towers. Duffy noted a surge in retirements among controllers since the shutdown began on October 1, with up to 20 retiring daily, compared with four per day before the shutdown. The FAA faces a shortage of 1,000 to 2,000 controllers.
Saturday alone saw 1,550 cancellations and 6,700 delays, up from 1,025 cancellations and 7,000 delays on Friday. Airline officials said managing flight schedules has become nearly impossible, raising safety concerns.
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White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett warned that the travel disruption could affect U.S. economic growth. Airlines for America reported that staffing shortages have disrupted travel plans for more than 4 million passengers since October 1, with daily economic losses estimated between $285 million and $580 million.
During the shutdown, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been working without pay. Duffy noted he could mandate 20% flight cuts if staffing shortages continue. Republican Senator Ted Cruz revealed that pilots have filed over 500 safety reports citing controller fatigue since the shutdown began.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
