US Shutdown Sparks Worst Air Travel Chaos Yet: 2,800 Flights Canceled, 10,000 Delayed

WASHINGTON, Nov 10: The United States is facing its worst air travel disruption since the government shutdown began, with more than 2,800 flights canceled and over 10,000 delayed nationwide on Sunday, according to flight tracking service FlightAware.

Major hubs, including New York, Chicago, and Atlanta, bore the brunt of the cancellations, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport alone scrapping over 200 flights.

According to Airlines for America, the shutdown has now disrupted travel for over four million passengers since early October, the Washington Post reported.

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy warned that the situation is rapidly deteriorating and could worsen ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel period.

“The shutdown’s impact on US airports will only get worse,” Duffy said Sunday. “Air travel could slow to a trickle in the two weeks before Thanksgiving.”

He added that thousands of air traffic controllers are working without pay, with many seeking other employment to cope financially. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an emergency order to cut flight volumes nationwide in an attempt to reduce strain on overworked controllers.

Duffy also revealed that the FAA faces a shortfall of 1,000 to 2,000 controllers, with 15 to 20 retiring daily. Even after the shutdown ends, he warned, “Staffing shortages will continue to affect operations,” noting reports from pilots of slower and less responsive air traffic communication.

By Tuesday, flight capacity at dozens of US airports is expected to be reduced by about 6%, according to the Post.

The crisis has sparked sharp political infighting in Washington. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the FAA’s flight cuts of being “transparently political,” blaming Republicans for refusing to fund the government.

“Instead of governing, Republicans are playing games with people’s livelihoods,” Schumer wrote on social platform X.

Duffy pushed back, accusing Democrats of refusing to negotiate, saying that “their obstruction” has left federal workers unpaid and travelers stranded.

Congress remains deadlocked, with Senate Republicans rejecting a Democratic proposal to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said lawmakers will remain in session until a compromise is reached.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration ordered states to suspend full SNAP (food aid) benefits, citing a legal dispute over federal spending during the shutdown, a move that could further strain millions of low-income families.

With the holiday travel season approaching, analysts warn that the ongoing shutdown could soon paralyze the US aviation system, leaving millions more stranded if a deal is not struck in the coming days.