U.S. Airports Face Extended Flight Delays Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

Mon Nov 03 2025 07:25:48 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As the government shutdown drags into its second month, air traffic controller shortages lead to significant flight delays across major U.S. airports, particularly affecting Newark, New York City, and other regions.

Flight delays are persisting at U.S. airports due to ongoing air traffic controller shortages as the government shutdown continues. Newark Airport is particularly impacted with delays of 2-3 hours, causing a ripple effect across the region. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warns that these delays may increase if controllers remain unpaid, emphasizing the need for their support. Travelers are advised to stay updated on their flight statuses amid these disruptions.

Flight delays continued at U.S. airports Sunday amid air traffic controller shortages as the government shutdown entered its second month, with Newark airport in New Jersey experiencing delays of two to three hours.

New York City’s Emergency Management office stated that Newark delays often ripple out to other regional airports.

Travelers flying to, from, or through New York are advised to expect schedule changes, gate holds, and missed connections, with prolonged waits likely.

Delays were also reported at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Chicago O’Hare, and major airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been warning that the lack of pay could lead to an increase in flight disruptions.

“We work overtime to make sure the system is safe. And we will slow traffic down, you’ll see delays, we’ll have flights canceled to ensure the system remains safe,” Duffy said during a Sunday appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”

Duffy has also indicated that he will not fire air traffic controllers who do not report to work, emphasizing the challenges they face when making decisions about their families.

In a statement, he noted that nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks, exacerbating existing staffing shortages.

Despite the ongoing challenges, aviation analytics firm Cirium indicated that most major U.S. airports have maintained a strong on-time performance during October, despite isolated staffing issues throughout the month.