Flight delays continued to disrupt travelers across the United States on Sunday as the government shutdown entered its second month, intensifying an already critical shortage of air traffic controllers.
At Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, passengers faced delays of two to three hours, according to aviation tracking data. The ripple effect from Newark extended to other major airports in the New York City region, impacting thousands of travelers.
The New York City Emergency Management Office warned travelers on X that delays at Newark often spread to nearby airports. “Anyone flying today should check flight status before heading to the airport and expect longer waits,” the agency said.
Major U.S. Airports See Widespread Disruptions
Delays were also reported at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, and Chicago O’Hare, along with major hubs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami, according to FlightAware data.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday that while the system remains safe, travelers should expect more delays and cancellations the longer air traffic controllers go unpaid.
“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 make sure the system is safe,” Duffy said during an appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation.
Controllers Working Without Pay
Nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay for weeks, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The situation has placed enormous financial and emotional pressure on controllers, many of whom are considered “essential” workers required to continue working during the shutdown.
Duffy said he has no plans to fire controllers who are unable to report for duty due to financial hardship.
“When they’re making decisions to feed their families, I’m not going to fire air traffic controllers,” he said. “They need support, they need money, they need a paycheck. They don’t need to be fired.”
However, earlier in October, Duffy had issued a warning to controllers calling in sick instead of working without pay — saying they risked termination. Even a small number of absences, he acknowledged, can have a large impact because of existing staffing shortages.
FAA Faces Longstanding Staffing Deficit
Before the shutdown began, the FAA was already grappling with a deficit of about 3,000 controllers nationwide, a shortfall years in the making.
Staffing shortages can occur both at regional control centers, which oversee multiple airports, and within individual airport towers. While these shortages don’t always cause disruptions, the cumulative effect has strained the system.
Despite these challenges, aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that most major U.S. airports maintained strong on-time performance through October, even as the strain on personnel grew.
The Outlook for Travelers
With no resolution to the shutdown in sight, travel experts warn passengers to expect continued disruptions through the coming weeks. The FAA and Department of Transportation continue to emphasize that safety remains the top priority, even if that means slowing traffic or canceling flights.
Travelers are advised to check flight status before leaving for the airport, allow extra time for connections, and prepare for potential delays as the situation evolves.
