The ongoing federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, is severely straining the nation’s air travel system, leading to a surge in flight delays and cancellations just ahead of the busy Thanksgiving holiday.
Since the shutdown began on October 1, flight delays and cancellations have escalated significantly across the country, snarling operations at airports nationwide. Major East Coast hubs—including Newark, Washington, D.C., and Boston—reported some of the highest numbers of delayed flights. Large airports in Chicago, Dallas–Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and Atlanta also experienced substantial disruptions.
According to FlightAware, Newark Liberty International in New Jersey saw the most flight delays this week among 28 major U.S. airports, logging 1,237, closely followed by Chicago O’Hare with 1,196. This week alone, more than 14,900 U.S. flights have been delayed and over 450 canceled. On Wednesday, the aviation tracking website recorded nearly 4,300 delayed flights and more than 170 cancellations.
Among the four major carriers analyzed—Southwest, United, American, and Delta—Southwest and United Airlines logged the highest number of flight delays nationwide this week. Dallas-based Southwest reported over 1,740 delayed flights and nearly 50 cancellations, while Chicago-based United recorded about 1,730 delays and nearly 60 cancellations.
American Airlines maintained a steady level of cancellations over the three-day period, averaging around a dozen per day. Delta reported the fewest disruptions, with cancellations steadily declining from approximately twelve on November 3 to just a few by November 5.
The strain on air traffic control operations prompted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to warn Wednesday that flight reductions were inevitable. The following day, citing growing safety risks, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advanced an unprecedented plan to reduce flights by 10% at 40 major U.S. airports.
Prior to the shutdown, the FAA was already grappling with a shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers. That strain has deepened as nationwide staffing shortages disrupt air travel, causing tens of thousands of delays and affecting at least 3.2 million passengers, according to airline estimates. Now, with Congress deadlocked, about 13,000 controllers and 50,000 TSA agents are working without pay.
As the shutdown continues with no resolution in sight, aviation officials warn that the ripple effects on the nation’s air network could worsen just as millions of Americans prepare to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday.
