US air travel in turmoil: 7,000 flights delayed as shutdown hits 27 days

Air travel across the United States descended into deeper turmoil on Monday, with nearly 7,000 flights delayed nationwide as the federal government shutdown reached its 27th day. The crisis, triggered by a budget impasse in Washington, has severely strained the country’s aviation system, as air traffic controllers and security officers continue working without pay.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) attributed the widespread delays to staffing shortages at key airports and air traffic control centres. Ground delay programs were put in place at Newark Liberty International Airport (New Jersey), Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (Texas), and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, among others. Earlier in the day, flights across the southeastern United States faced long delays due to a shortage of staff at the Atlanta Terminal Radar Approach Control center, one of the busiest in the country.

A US Department of Transportation official revealed that nearly 44% of Sunday’s flight delays were linked to controller absences, a staggering jump from the usual 5%. The situation has led to growing passenger frustration, mounting political pressure, and renewed concern about aviation safety as the shutdown continues.

Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have been working without pay since the government shutdown began, after a budget standoff between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats over federal spending.

The Trump administration has warned that disruptions could worsen in the coming days, as air traffic controllers and security staff miss their first full paychecks. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has announced protests and outreach events at several airports to highlight the growing strain on aviation workers.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited air traffic control facilities in Cleveland on Monday to assess the situation firsthand.

According to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, major US carriers faced massive delays through the weekend:

• On Sunday, more than 8,800 flights were delayed nationwide.

1. Southwest Airlines had 47% of its flights delayed (2,089 flights).
2. American Airlines saw 36% delayed (1,277 flights).
3. United Airlines recorded 27% delays (807 flights).
4. Delta Air Lines reported 21% delays (725 flights).

• On Monday, the delays persisted, though at slightly reduced levels:

1. Southwest Airlines: 34% of flights delayed.
2. American Airlines: 29%.
3. Delta Air Lines: 22%.
4. United Airlines: 19%.

The FAA has been struggling with chronic staffing shortages even before the shutdown. The agency is currently about 3,500 controllers short of its target, forcing many to work mandatory overtime and six-day workweeks.

This situation evokes memories of the 2019 government shutdown, which lasted 35 days, the longest in US history. During that period, unpaid controllers and TSA staff began calling in sick in large numbers, leading to massive flight delays in New York and Washington and long queues at airport checkpoints across the country.

Aviation experts warn that the current shutdown could have similar or worse consequences if the standoff continues.

As Washington’s political stalemate drags on, US airports are bracing for more turbulence not from the skies, but from the ground operations struggling to keep flights in the air