U.S. Flight Disruptions Surge as Government Shutdown Drags On

The United States experienced its most severe air‑travel turmoil in weeks as the federal government entered its 40th day of a partial shutdown, prompting a cascade of flight delays and cancellations.

According to data from FlightAware, more than 2,000 flights were scrapped and over 8,000 delayed nationwide on Sunday, marking the worst single‑day disruption since the shutdown began on Oct. 1.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a 10 percent capacity cut at 40 major airports starting Friday, citing a critical shortage of air‑traffic controllers who have gone without pay for weeks. The agency warned that the situation could deteriorate further, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy telling CNN that air travel may soon be reduced to “a trickle” ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday on Nov. 27.

Analysts note that the shutdown has exacerbated an already strained controller workforce. “Controller absenteeism has risen sharply, forcing many to work overtime under fatigue,” said an industry source. The FAA reported staffing gaps of 1,000–2,000 controllers nationwide, and the Department of Transportation estimates the daily economic impact of the disruptions at $285 million to $580 million.

Major carriers have been forced to trim schedules aggressively. United Airlines announced cuts of 190 flights on Monday and 269 on Tuesday, while American, Delta, and Southwest collectively removed hundreds of departures. Delta, in particular, faced delays or cancellations for 52 percent of its mainline flights on Sunday, underscoring the breadth of the crisis.

The shutdown stems from a political stalemate over a temporary funding bill, with the Senate unable to break a filibuster requiring a 60‑vote threshold. Lawmakers are under pressure to reach an agreement before the holiday travel rush, but the partisan divide remains deep.

Airlines for America, the industry trade group, warned that the disruptions could extend into the coming week unless a resolution is reached. The organization highlighted that staffing shortages accounted for 71 percent of total delay time on Saturday, amplifying the ripple effects across the nation’s airspace.