Air travelers have endured a turbulent fall. Widespread flight cancellations and staffing shortages have plagued the aviation system. The cause? The U.S. government shutdown.
The longest government shutdown ends Wednesday night, November 12, after President Trump signed legislation to reopen federal operations. However, experts warn that the government shutdown’s travel impact may affect Thanksgiving travelers heading to airports in the coming days.
Flight Restrictions Begin to Ease
During the shutdown, air traffic controllers worked without pay. Consequently, many called out sick, while others chose early retirement. The staffing shortage forced the Federal Aviation Administration to issue emergency orders reducing flight capacity at 40 major airports nationwide.
Currently, the FAA-mandated flight reductions stand at 6% and will drop to 3% starting Saturday. According to a Department of Transportation news release, this restriction “will remain in place while the FAA monitors system performance throughout the weekend.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expects a resolution soon. He said flight issues should clear before Thanksgiving travel ramps up.
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian expressed confidence. “I think the system should return to normal by the weekend. I really do,” Bastian told CBS Mornings on Thursday. “Thanksgiving is going to be a great holiday period of travel.”
Industry Experts More Cautious
However, travel insiders have indicated it could take a week or more for airlines to fully recover from recent disruptions.
Katy Nastro is a travel expert with Going.com. She said severe disruption levels are unlikely to continue into the holiday week. Nevertheless, challenges remain.
“If we are still down a certain number of controllers … we may see disruptions into Thanksgiving, yet likely not to this extent,” Nastro explained.
Photo by a-gree from Canva
A Staffing Crisis That Will Persist
The shutdown worsened an already critical shortage. Secretary Duffy revealed alarming statistics. Before the shutdown, four controllers retired daily on average. During the shutdown? That number jumped to 15 to 20 retirements per day.
“This is going to live on in air travel well beyond the timeframe that this government opens back up,” Duffy told CNN on Sunday.
Additionally, passengers at airports, including Houston and Atlanta, have experienced long TSA security wait times, adding to Thanksgiving travel concerns.
How Travelers Should Prepare
Travel experts emphasize preparation amid the holidays. First, download your airline’s mobile app. Then, enable push notifications about flight changes. Third-party apps like FlightAware and Flighty can also help.
Arrive early at the airport. Plan for at least two hours before domestic flights. You may need even more time during the hectic holiday period.
Consider booking the first flight of the day. Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, notes that “flights departing after 9 AM are two times more likely to be delayed than departures scheduled between 5-8 AM.”
If your flight is disrupted, act quickly. John DiScala, founder of JohnnyJet.com, warns that holiday flights operate at full capacity. “Time is of the essence — you’ve got to hustle,” he said, recommending travelers simultaneously contact airlines through the mobile app’s chat function, phone support, and in-person customer service. “And always be nice,” DiScala added.
As millions prepare for Thanksgiving travel, the aviation industry faces a critical test of its recovery capabilities. While officials express confidence that operations will normalize before the holiday rush peaks, the staffing crisis won’t be solved overnight. Travelers should approach the period with cautious optimism—hoping for the best while preparing for potential complications.
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*Banner photo by Lumin Osity on Unsplash
