As a fifth day of flight disruptions unfolded on Tuesday, airlines warned that even if the federal government gets a deal to reopen, it will take time for travel schedules to recover.
The House is scheduled to consider the Senate bill to end the government shutdown on Wednesday.. But Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy warned Tuesday that air travel will be severely affected if lawmakers don’t act quickly.
“If the House doesn’t pass this bill, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday will be a mess.Mr Duffy cited approximately 7,000 canceled flights and more than 28,000 delays over the three-day period. “And the situation will only get worse.”.
Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered airlines to reduce flights at 40 major U.S. airports, starting with a 4% reduction starting Friday. Agency Director Brian Bedford said these cuts were necessary to relieve pressure on the aviation system as air traffic controllers and other federal employees continued to work without pay during the longest government shutdown in history.
Trading appeared to have stabilized on Tuesday. KiriumAs of Tuesday afternoon, 1,148 flights, or just over 5%, had been canceled, the aviation data analysis firm reported. Regarding the percentage of flights affected, the airport new york laguardia and international airport boston logan The most affected were 12% and 8% respectively.
But lawmakers are nearing a potential deal to reopen the government, and there are hopes that scheduled air service could resume as the industry ramps up preparations for the Thanksgiving holiday, when an estimated 31 million people will travel.
Even if the end of the shutdown is in sight. Duffy did not provide a specific timeline for the airline’s full resumption of operations.says any decisions will be made based on data. Aviation industry leaders also warned that recovery will take time.
“Airlines’ reduced flight schedules cannot quickly return to full capacity as soon as governments reopen. It takes time and after-effects remain for several days.” warned Airlines for America, an industry group representing the nation’s largest airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.
“Shutdown is not like flipping a switch,” said Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. It’s not just about turning it on or off.”.
Airlines had cut their flights by 6% by Tuesday, up from 4% the previous Friday. Unless the government revise the order, airlines must reduce flights by 10% at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport by next Friday.
During an appearance at O’Hare Airport on Tuesday, Duffy also announced that air traffic controllers who didn’t receive their paychecks for the second time this week would be paid faster. he suggested that they would receive 70% of paychecks will become delinquent within 24-48 hours of government reopening, and the remainder will be paid within a week..
Duffy made a visible presence during the government shutdown, holding press conferences almost every week and meeting with air traffic controllers at airports such as Newark Liberty International Airport and Reagan National Airport.
Daniels said at a news conference Monday that members who worked as DoorDash delivery drivers during off-hours or donated plasma to help pay their bills are being affected by unpaid wages.
“No American should be forced to work without pay.“He added: “Not paying someone for the work they do is un-American, and not paying the workers who keep our skies safe is unacceptable and unsustainable.”
In a social media post on Monday, the president said: donald trump He urged air traffic controllers to return to work and threatened retribution for those who did not comply. He criticized those who took time off during the government shutdown and praised those who continued working, saying they were entitled to bonuses. On Tuesday, Duffy supported the plan and suggested the checks could be delivered during a ceremony at the White House.
Airlines are focusing on smaller, regional routes and cutting back on high-frequency flights to minimize the impact on consumers. International flights will not be affected by the reduction in flights.
The airline is obligated to refund the full amount of the canceled flight. Travelers are also entitled to a full refund if they choose not to board a flight delayed by more than three hours for domestic flights or six hours or more for international flights.
In a text message sent to customers on Monday, Delta Air Lines said it had completed the cancellations ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) until Wednesday. However, airlines still encourage passengers to check flight status.
Bedford said the system continued to function relatively well during the shutdown, but a review of confidential security reports and other internal data raised concerns about the impact of the shutdown on essential workers, including air traffic controllers.
On the other hand, the representative rick larsen The top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said safety must come first, but the administration is taking “drastic and unprecedented steps to increase transparency.”
Even if the shutdown solves the problem, the same problems that have plagued the system for years remain. The FAA still needs about 3,000 certified air traffic controllers to fill its staff.This means many people will continue to work mandatory overtime for 10 hours a day, six days a week.
© 2025, The Washington Post.
About The Author
