U.S. Airports Face Ongoing Flight Delays Amid Government Shutdown

Mon Nov 03 2025 07:01:30 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Flight delays continue across U.S. airports as air traffic controller shortages are exacerbated by the ongoing government shutdown, which has now entered its second month.

Travel disruptions are mounting at major U.S. airports due to a shortage of air traffic controllers as the government shutdown persists. Newark Airport is particularly affected, with statements from officials urging travelers to check flight statuses and expect delays. The Transportation Secretary warns further disruptions could arise without timely resolutions to controller compensation.

Flight delays are becoming increasingly common across U.S. airports, particularly as the ongoing government shutdown pushes into its second month, leading to air traffic controller shortages. Newark Airport in New Jersey has been severely impacted, with reports indicating delays extending to two to three hours.

New York City's Emergency Management office warned that the disruptions at Newark often cascade to other airports in the region. Travelers are advised to brace for schedule changes, gate holds, and the likelihood of missed connections. A post on X emphasized the importance of checking flight statuses before arriving at airports, predicting longer wait times for fliers.

Major hubs including Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and Chicago O'Hare are experiencing notable delays. Airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami are also reporting similar issues, as noted by flight tracking service FlightAware.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has expressed concerns that more flight disruptions will be observed if air traffic controllers remain unpaid for an extended period. “We will slow traffic down, you’ll see delays, we’ll have flights canceled to make sure the system is safe,” Duffy stated on CBS's Face the Nation.

Despite the staffing crisis, Duffy reassured that he does not intend to dismiss any air traffic controllers who call in sick due to financial strain. “They need support, they need money, they need a paycheck. They don’t need to be fired,” he asserted.

As a significant portion of the nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers work without pay, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has faced chronic staffing shortfalls that predate the shutdown. Attendance issues among a small fraction of controllers have exacerbated operational shortfalls, increasing the potential for flight disruptions.

However, aviation analytics firm Cirium noted that many U.S. airports have still shown robust on-time performance during October, despite isolated staffing concerns. Before the shutdown began, the FAA already faced a persistent air traffic controller shortage of around 3,000 positions.