Air travel across the United States is facing severe disruption as over 3,300 flights were canceled on Sunday due to the ongoing government shutdown, prompting warnings from top transportation officials that travel could “slow to a trickle” in the lead-up to Thanksgiving 2025.

The cancellations come after lawmakers reached a stopgap deal in the U.S. Senate aimed at ending the six-week-long impasse, though travel chaos may continue until the funding is fully restored.

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Mounting Travel Disruptions Across U.S. Airports

Travel disruption has been escalating as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered phased reductions in domestic air traffic. The FAA cited concerns over air traffic controller fatigue and absenteeism, as thousands of essential employees continue to work without pay.

• 13,000 air traffic controllers, considered “essential,” have been working unpaid since October 1
• FlightAware data reports over 3,300 flight cancellations and roughly 10,000 delays on Sunday alone
• Saturday saw over 1,500 flight cancellations, and Friday recorded nearly 1,000 cancellations

The FAA has implemented a phased reduction plan:

• 4% reduction in domestic flights starting Friday, Nov. 7
• 6% reduction starting Monday, Nov. 11
• 8% reduction by Thursday, Nov. 14
• 10% reduction by Friday, Nov. 15

These reductions have raised growing concerns over the Thanksgiving travel surge, historically one of the busiest periods in U.S. air travel.

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Transportation Secretary Warns of Travel Standstill

In media interviews, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy warned that, if the shutdown continues, air travel could grind to a halt.

“As we approach Thanksgiving, you’re going to have air travel slow to a trickle, as everyone wants to travel to see their families,” Duffy told Fox News. He added, “It doesn’t get better; it gets worse until air traffic controllers are paid.”

For context, the Thanksgiving travel season in 2024 saw an estimated 80 million Americans traveling, with 3.09 million passengers screened at airports on the Sunday following the holiday alone. The current shutdown threatens similar levels of chaos in 2025.

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Senate Reaches Stopgap Funding Agreement

Despite mounting travel disruptions, the U.S. Senate reached a bipartisan agreement to advance a funding package to restore government operations through the end of January.

• Senate voted 60-40 to break the filibuster and advance the stopgap measure
• Moderate Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the legislation
• The package still requires approval from the full Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the President before the shutdown officially ends

While the stopgap plan is a crucial first step, it remains unclear whether flight disruptions will persist even after federal funding is restored. The FAA has stated that lifting flight reductions will depend on safety data and workforce availability.

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Aviation Analysts Offer Perspective

Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory, noted that flight disruptions caused by unpaid air traffic controllers should dissipate quickly once the shutdown ends. However, some analysts remain skeptical, suggesting that capacity restrictions may be used to increase political pressure to end the shutdown.

“The decision to restrict capacity would be understandable if supported by facts and data,” Aboulafia told Al Jazeera. “However, Secretary Duffy has not shared this data publicly, raising suspicion, particularly given other unnecessary cuts by the administration.”

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Impact on Travelers and Airlines

The ongoing shutdown has created a ripple effect across airlines, airports, and passengers nationwide:

• Thousands of flights canceled or delayed, creating massive disruption for domestic and international travelers
• Airlines forced to adjust schedules due to staff shortages at the FAA
• Potential for travel chaos during Thanksgiving 2025, a critical holiday travel period

Travelers are advised to check airline updates, anticipate delays, and consider flexible travel plans until the government shutdown is fully resolved.