As the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history drags into November, holiday travellers are confronting mounting uncertainty ahead of Thanksgiving. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered airlines to reduce flight volumes at 40 major airports amid staffing shortages, as thousands of air-traffic controllers continue working without pay.
Over the weekend, U.S. carriers cancelled more than 2,200 flights and delayed thousands more, marking the highest disruption level since the shutdown’s onset on October 1. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the impasse persists, air travel during the pre-holiday surge could be “reduced to a trickle.”
Specifically, the FAA mandated a 4 % reduction in daily flights starting last week, with plans to escalate to 6 % and then 10 % reductions by mid-November; some forecasts argue cuts could climb as high as 20 %. Many airlines say their ability to re-book or refund affected passengers is being stretched, and travellers are being urged to monitor their flight statuses, consider flexible tickets or alternate transport modes.
Economists warn the ripple effects go beyond travel: a slowdown in the Thanksgiving-period mobility could shave growth from the fourth quarter, as the holiday is typically a key driver of consumer spending. Until the funding impasse is resolved, experts say the aviation system may continue to feel effects—even after flights resume normal levels—due to staffing attrition and backlog in scheduling.
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