Urgent: Holiday Air Travel Delays Spike Amid Ongoing Shutdown

UPDATE: Holiday air travel is facing significant disruptions as the ongoing government shutdown drags into a second month. Passengers should prepare for increased delays and potential chaos at airports across the United States.

Travelers are already experiencing snaking security lines and lengthy waits, with reports indicating that about 20% of flights at major US airports were delayed in October 2025, translating to 1 in 5 flights. Staffing shortages are crippling air traffic control and TSA operations, as air traffic controllers and security personnel continue to work without pay.

Authorities warn that the situation could worsen rapidly if the shutdown persists. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that if the shutdown continues for another week, the government may be forced to close some airspace due to insufficient staffing. “People will not be able to go from one place to another because of the government shutdown,” he remarked on Thursday.

The impact on air travel is already evident. Airports in cities like Los Angeles, Nashville, and Orlando have seen significant delays, with reports indicating that staffing issues accounted for 84% of delays on Sunday alone. This is a stark increase from just 5% pre-shutdown.

In addition to rising delays, the FAA issued multiple advisories nationwide over the weekend as air traffic staffing shortages forced flights to be held at their origins or rerouted around congested airspace. “This is unprecedented,” an air traffic controller told Business Insider. The current situation echoes the challenges faced during the 2018-2019 government shutdown, which led to massive delays and halted flights at major airports.

On October 30, the average delay rate at major airports spiked to over 30%, illustrating the growing crisis as the holiday travel season approaches. The Department of Transportation reported that staffing accounted for approximately 65% of delays on Friday and 59% on Saturday.

The ongoing shutdown has already lasted longer than any in US history, raising urgent concerns about aviation safety and operational efficiency. Experts caution that the mounting pressure on air traffic controllers could lead to critical errors, as they are forced to manage increased workloads without adequate compensation or rest.

In Houston, Texas, passengers at George Bush Intercontinental Airport faced security waits of up to three hours on Monday, a troubling sign just weeks before the Thanksgiving and Christmas travel rush. As holiday travel approaches, analysts fear a repeat of previous shutdowns, which caused chaos and widespread delays.

Flight tracking website FlightAware reported nearly 4,800 delays on Monday, a slight decrease from the weekend but indicative of ongoing turbulence in the air travel system. “We’re seeing problems at LA, in Dallas, in DC, Boston, Atlanta. And I think it’s only going to get worse,” Duffy warned.

Travelers are advised to stay informed and plan accordingly as delays could continue to escalate. As the pressure mounts on air traffic controllers and TSA agents, the safety of air travel hangs in the balance, making it more crucial than ever for political leaders to resolve the ongoing shutdown.

For those planning to fly, it’s essential to monitor flight statuses closely and allow for extra travel time. The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated, as the holiday travel season is just around the corner and the risk of significant delays looms larger by the day.