American air travelers face ongoing disruptions as House to consider reopening government

President Donald Trump speaks to Senate Republicans at the White House : Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

President Trump signed a bipartisan bill Wednesday night ending the shutdown, calling it one of the most damaging in U.S. history.

““This cost the country $1.5 trillion,” he said from the White House, highlighting the impact on air travel, Trump blamed Democrats.

“ Over the past seven weeks, the Democrats' shutdown has inflicted massive harm. They caused 20,000 flights to be canceled or delayed," before adding, "People are hurt so badly. Nobody’s ever seen anything like this.”

The agreement restores federal funding, reopens agencies and brings relief to hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers.The shutdown severely disrupted airlines, causing staffing shortages, flight delays and cancellations.

Before signing the bill, Trump praised “all incredible patriots” including Airlines for America, the Allied Pilots Association and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and vowed, “We can never let this happen again,” he said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson : Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images

House Speaker Mike Johnson reaffirmed his promise that Republicans will “get back to work” as he spoke Wednesday night following the historic vote to end the shutdown.

“Millions of American families went without food on their table,” Johnson said, reflecting on the toll the 43-day shutdown took on people.

“You had millions of Americans stranded in airports, their flights canceled and delayed. You had troops and federal employees wondering where their next paycheck would come from.”

“Anyone who studied history would know that shutdowns never yield any positive result,” he said.

The speaker credited the bipartisan agreement and said that the "lights" were back on.

“Now that we’ve got the lights back on, we’ve got the government reopened,” Johnson added.

“The president will sign that triumphantly tonight, and Republicans will get right back to the work that we promised the American people that we will do.”

Delta Airlines Boeing plane passes by the U.S. Capitol dome in Washington : Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

After 43 days, the U.S. government shutdown may finally be nearing its end but not before continuing to take a toll on air travelers.

As of 7:42 p.m. EST, FlightAware reported 2,129 delays and 904 cancellations nationwide, highlighting the shutdown’s ongoing impact on the air travel system.

On Capitol Hill, federal funding legislation to reopen the government survived a test vote in the House late Wednesday which cleared the way for a final passage within hours.

The bill looks set to reach the president's desk tonight, potentially bringing the shutdown to a close.

Sean Duffy and Bryan Bedford share data on FAA staffing at airports because of the shutdown : Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced an emergency order to freeze the limit on U.S. flight reductions at 6% Wednesday night.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford’s joint statement cited a sharp rebound in air traffic controller staffing levels.

The FAA said a "rapid decline in controller callouts" from a high of 81 on Nov. 8 to just four on Wednesday proved "strong staffing levels" and a stabilization of the whole system.

“President Trump’s message has been heard loud and clear: controllers will be made whole quickly. The FAA safety team is encouraged to see our air traffic control staffing surge, and they feel comfortable with pausing the reduction schedule to give us time to review the airspace,” said Duffy.

“The data is going to guide what we do because the safety of the American people comes first,” he added.

“Our top priority at the FAA is, and always will be, safety,” said Bedford.

“The data shows that controller staffing is improving rapidly, which allows us to hold flight reductions at 6% while maintaining the highest levels of safety in our airspace," he added.

The statement also said that the 40 affected high-impact airport list will stay the same.

Air passengers wait for flight information during the government shutdown. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)

As the federal shutdown inches toward a possible resolution, America’s air travel system continues to strain.

By 6:50 p.m. EST Wednesday, FlightAware reported 1,946 delays and 903 cancellations across the U.S., marking another chaotic travel day since the crisis began.

The FAA has cited staffing shortages among air-traffic controllers and other essential workers, prompting capacity cuts of up to 10% at major airports.

Travelers are still facing long waits, unexpected cancellations and widespread schedule reshuffling.

Wednesday’s congressional vote to end the shutdown could bring relief, but even if it passes, Thursday’s flights could continue to feel the ripple effects.

Reporters raise hands to ask questions during a press briefing by White House press briefing : Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a stark warning about the economic fallout from the government shutdown ahead of Wednesday's critical vote.

 “Tonight, thanks to Republicans, the White House is very hopeful that this shutdown is going to come to an end,” Leavitt told reporters.

“Our economy has lost billions and billions of dollars in economic activity over the course of this shutdown, hurting consumer sentiment and crushing the travel and hospitality industries,” she added.

The airline sector continued to feel disruption Wednesday as FlightAware data showed 1,807 delays and 901 cancellations as of 5:40 p.m. EST.

Ed Bastian at the New York Stock Exchange : Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian appeared optimistic Wednesday, expressing confidence that the carrier could return to full operations if the government shutdown ends soon.

“If shutdown ends today, it will be back to normal by the weekend,” Bastian said during an interview on CNBC. When pressed again, he added that normalization could come by Friday or Saturday.

In Washington, the U.S. House of Representatives reconvened Wednesday to vote on a bipartisan funding bill aimed at ending the shutdown and restoring full federal operations.

Lawmakers were expected to begin voting around 5 p.m. EST, with final votes anticipated after 7 p.m., marking a step to reopening the government.

Private jet on runway

The private aviation industry recorded its best month in nearly two decades as commercial air travel was battered by the government shutdown, The New York Times reported.

According to data from business aviation tracker WingX , about 245,000 private jets departed from U.S. airports in October, showing more than a 5% increase compared with the same period last year.

The surge came as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) kept flight reductions across commercial airlines during the shutdown.

“Flying direct on private and flying from your home airport directly to the airport that’s closest to your place of business is very advantageous,,” Gregg Woods, CEO Cirrus Aviation Services told the outlet. Woods' firm completed 928 flights in October without a single cancellation.

Flexjet also reported that flying hours increased by over 20% in October compared with last year and climbed another 42% in the first week of November.

Magellan Jets said October was its busiest month of 2025, with a 17% increase in demand from September, according to the report.

Travelers at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoint inside the Jeppesen Terminal at Denver International Airport (DEN) : Getty Images

When the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) flight-reduction rule reaches 10% on Nov. 14, the economic toll could be huge, according to estimates from Airlines for America (A4A).

In an update shared online , the industry group projected that the reduction could result in a daily average economic impact of $285 million to $580 million, depending on how airlines can reaccommodate passengers on other flights.

A4A’s projection focuses on the economic effects of complying with the FAA’s flight-reduction rules which means the losses associated with operating fewer flights.

The estimate does not include factors such as staffing shortages, refunds and rebooking costs, or lost passenger time.

The estimate does account for indirect and induced effects including reduced visitor and tourist spending in affected destinations, as well as lower state and local tax revenues from travel-related businesses like hotels, restaurants, and shops.

A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer stands near a security checkpoint : Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images

As the shutdown continues, many TSA agents are working without pay, according to one union leader.

“They've already been working now without paying for 42 days, and officers are struggling to put gas in their cars just to get to a job that isn't paying them,” Rebecca Wolf, president of AFGE TSA Local 1127, told CBS News.

“Families are cutting corners where they can. I've heard of officers skipping medications and they're falling behind on bills,” Wolf said.

“I've even had people reach out, because some have already been evicted from their homes. And I heard of one of our officers within my six states who are now living out of their car,” she added.

This week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said controllers will receive 70% of their paychecks within 24 to 48 hours after the government shutdown ends, with the remainder to follow within a week.

On Instagram , Duffy also wrote, “THANK YOU to all of the TSA workers at DCA who are still coming to work despite missing a month’s pay because of the government shutdown!”

Lines and wait times at airports : AP Images

There’s a glimmer of hope for air travelers amid the turmoil of the ongoing federal shutdown.

According to data from Cirium, about 83% of flights departed within 15 minutes of their scheduled time on Tuesday, signaling a welcome improvement in punctuality.

Business Insider reported that Cirium described the figure as “above to above average,” marking a sharp rebound from Sunday and Monday, when nearly 40% of flights left late.

Despite the gains, mandatory flight reductions remain in place across major U.S. airports, and travelers enduring a rollercoaster of disruptions since the shutdown began on Oct. 1.

As of 2:30 p.m. EST Wednesday, FlightAware data also showed 1,230 delays and 893 cancellations nationwide.

American Airlines jet at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport : Max Faulkner/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

American Airlines COO David Seymour said Wednesday that restoring normal flight operations needs coordination with federal aviation authorities.

Speaking to NBC News , Seymour said the airline industry's chance to bounce back quickly depends on collaboration with regulators as the industry continues to manage disruption amid the ongoing shutdown.

“The quick return to normal operations will depend on working with the FAA to ensure that we maintain the safety of the system,” Seymour said.

He also warned the busiest travel periods of the year are approaching.

“With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s going to be super important that we’re there, able to deliver to our customers,” Seymour added

Delta aircraft in flight

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian has warned that U.S. government-mandated flight reductions are leading to “significant” financial losses for the company.

Speaking with CNBC Wednesday, Bastian said Delta faced around 2,500 cancellations in the past week alone --- a figure he called “a crazy amount.”

Bastian expressed cautious optimism that operations could return to normal if the ongoing government shutdown which is now in its 43rd day.

“We had 2,500 cancellations for the last week, which is a crazy amount. It’s going to cost Delta a significant amount, it’ll cost the other airlines,” Bastian said in the interview.

Despite the disruption, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had flight cancellations at about 6% on Wednesday.

Multiple airlines told Reuters that the FAA might reduce its planned Thursday 8% flight cancellations and keep the flight cuts to the current 6% rate.

A vote is expected on a spending bill later Wednesday that could determine when federal services, including air traffic operations, resume full capacity.

Nam Y. Huh/AP Photo

As air travel disruptions continue, U.S. fliers saw 1,117 flight delays and 890 cancellations by 1:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, according to FlightAware.com.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has implored lawmakers to reopen the government and get paychecks in the hands of TSA workers, air traffic controllers and others as the holiday travel season looms.

John Raoux/AP Photo

Air travelers in the U.S. have seen their flights cancelled and increasingly delayed amid ongoing disruptions. According to FlightAware.com, 980 flights had been delayed and 893 were cancelled as of 12:30 p.m. ET.

Earlier on Wednesday, Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu urged lawmakers to reopen the government as the air travel industry prepares for "record Thanksgiving travel" in just two weeks.

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu is urging lawmakers to reopen the government as the travel industry braces "record Thanksgiving travel."

"We strongly urge members of the House of Representatives to vote to reopen the government today. Airlines have temporarily reduced their schedules to comply with the FAA’s mandate and to prioritize safety. More than 5 million passengers and countless cargo shipments have been impacted by delays and cancelations related to the shutdown ,' Sununu said in a statement.

“We are preparing for record Thanksgiving travel, with some 31 million passengers expected, and the busy shipping season is coming up. However, airlines cannot flip a switch and resume normal operations immediately after a vote—there will be residual effects for days," he added. "It is past time to end the shutdown!” 

Annabelle Gordon/Reuters

Air travelers in the U.S. continued to grapple with disruptions as 891 flights were cancelled and 852 were delayed by 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning, according to FlightAware.com.

Several major travel hubs have been impacted by the government shutdown, which has forced air traffic controllers, TSA agents and other workers to do their jobs without pay. Newark Liberty International Airport, New York's LaGuardia Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have all experienced delays and cancellations.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spoke to air traffic controllers' leadership at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Wednesday about ongoing pressure their workforce is facing as the government shutdown stretches to a 43rd day.

"What the shutdown has really shown to the public is what we have been dealing with for the last 10 years. We've been working four days off a month at the world's busiest airport for a decade," the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) representative at Chicago O'Hare told Duffy. "O'Hare needs controllers."

"We have one of the most stressful jobs ever," the head of the air traffic controllers' leadership team told Duffy. "Working an inbound ground control session upstairs after an hour and a half, your brain is mush. Now if you have to go downstairs on your 30 minute break to go call creditors and say 'I'm not going to be able to pay this. Can I have an extension?' that's just an added pressure, right?"

In an X post accompanying the video of their conversation, Duffy wrote, "At the world’s busiest airport, Chicago O’Hare, I checked in with a couple air traffic controllers and visited their tower."

"Did you know that because of understaffing, many of their controllers are only able to take 4 days off PER MONTH?" he wrote. "Controllers, thank you for your dedication to serving our skies."

National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels joined "Fox & Friends" on Wednesday and praised air traffic controllers who worked without pay as "American patriots." He also scolded politicians, accusing them of using air traffic controllers as "pawns" in the shutdown.

"Air traffic controllers share the exact same frustration as the American flying public, that they should not be the pawns in any type of government shutdown," Daniels said. He later added that the shutdown "needs to end tonight and it needs end now."

Jim Vondruska/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Air travelers in the U.S. saw 884 flights cancelled and 626 delayed by 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, according to FlightAware.com.

The impacted airports include major travel hubs, such as Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has seen the most cancellations and delays so far Wednesday, according to FlightAware.com's "Misery Map."

The Atlanta airport currently has 12 delays and 24 cancellations, according to the map.

Chicago O'Hare International Airport ranked second on the list with 16 delayed flights and 18 cancellations as of Wednesday morning.

Brian Snyder/Reuters; Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images; Mike Segar/Reuters

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended President Donald Trump against criticism from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, accusing him of neglecting key aviation safety issues during his tenure.

"There were 85 near misses in the Potomac before the DCA air crash. Pete did nothing," Duffy said on "Hannity."

"He spent $80 billion on DEI and on climate change. He lowered the standards for training at the FAA. He focused on pronouns at the FAA, but never worked to fix the air traffic control system, didn't work on bringing more air traffic controllers into the system, so what he's trying to do is rewrite his record because he wants to run for president, but the truth is he barely showed up at the DOT."

Duffy’s comments came after Buttigieg took to X to criticize Trump for urging air traffic controllers to return to work amid widespread flight disruptions.

"The president wouldn’t last five minutes as an air traffic controller," Buttigieg wrote.

Annabelle Gordon/Reuters

From Friday, Nov. 7, through Tuesday, Nov. 11, there were 39,438 U.S. flight delays and 9,231 cancellations, according to FlightAware.com. The website showed that air travelers were most impacted on Sunday, Nov. 9, with 11,229 U.S. delays and 2,954 U.S. cancellations.

On Monday, Nov. 10, there were 9,646 U.S. delays and 2,422 U.S. cancellations. The situation improved slightly Tuesday, Nov. 11, with a total of 4,001 U.S. delays and a total of 1,264 U.S. cancellations.

The disruptions are set to continue with a planned 8% reduction in flights on Thursday, Nov. 13, and a 10% reduction on Friday, Nov. 14.

Former FAA Safety Team representative Kyle Bailey told "FOX & Friends FIRST" that it is "100% safe to fly" despite the ongoing air travel disruptions.

Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe to discuss the economic impact of the shutdown and the role air transport plays.

Bessent emphasized that the movement of people and goods are key to the economy.

“Well, it’s a core tenet of the economy, along with trucking and shipping,” he said.

“But in terms of business travel, I received several texts from airline executives over the weekend before we got news that the shutdown might be ending, saying they were quite worried for their businesses."

Bessent’s remarks came as he highlighted the wider impact of the shutdown. He noted the uncertainty had caused concern across other industries.

“I don’t know what it could have cascaded into,” he said.

“One of the things I didn’t want to do was alarm Americans, but I got a panic notice the other night that said food inspectors were not getting paid and that they weren’t going to work. So, we actually could have had food shortages,” Bessent said.