What You Can Do If Your Flight Is Disrupted By the Shutdown

Flight Disruptions Worsen Due to Government Shutdown

Flight delays and cancellations are increasing across the United States and are expected to worsen as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history has disrupted travel nationwide, causing chaos for many passengers.

Flight Reductions at Major Airports

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday a plan to reduce flights by 10% at 40 major airports starting Friday, citing safety concerns. This measure aims to ease the burden on air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay during the shutdown.

“The move is intended to ‘alleviate the pressure’ on air traffic controllers.”

Impact on Air Travel

Shortages of active air traffic controllers have already caused widespread flight cancellations and delays. For example, Newark Liberty International Airport experienced about 288 delays on Thursday afternoon, while Chicago O’Hare International Airport had approximately 177.

What Travelers Should Know

With no resolution to the shutdown in sight, the duration of these flight disruptions remains uncertain. Passengers planning flights in the near future should prepare accordingly and explore options if their flights are canceled or delayed.

Summary

Ongoing government shutdowns are severely impacting U.S. air travel, prompting flight reductions and causing widespread delays, especially at busy airports, as safety concerns rise.

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Time Magazine Time Magazine — 2025-11-07

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