US Air Travel Issues (Government Shutdown Oct - Nov 2025)

[elanshin]

With the US government now being in it's longest shutdown ever, the effects is starting to flow onto air travel as both ATC and TSA are federal organisations and nobody is being paid. It seems like flight cuts and cancellations are already occuring because of this, but it's possibly only a stones throw away from collapsing if this isn't sorted out soon and people being paid to work.

Also this could have long term impacts as well - people being forced to leave ATC because of this temporary shutdown may not return back and cause a struggling industry to lose even more staff.

Trump administration warns shutdown could force US airspace closures

Transport secretary says 35-day shutdown is causing severe air traffic controller shortages and warns of ‘mass chaos’

www.theguardian.com

 

[Himeno]

They were reporting 3+ (up to 5) hour TSA queues at IAH a few days ago.

If they decide to start completely shutting down airspace sectors (instead of reducing flow and going VFR), I have to wonder how much impact it will have on FAA controlled sectors outside US airspace, such as Oakland Oceanic which controls a very large part of the Northern Pacific.
Even flights between Australia and Japan pass through airspace controlled by Oakland Oceanic (unless the flight diverts via the Philippines)

 

[elanshin]

They were reporting 3+ (up to 5) hour TSA queues at IAH a few days ago.

If they decide to start completely shutting down airspace sectors (instead of reducing flow and going VFR), I have to wonder how much impact it will have on FAA controlled sectors outside US airspace, such as Oakland Oceanic which controls a very large part of the Northern Pacific.
Even flights between Australia and Japan pass through airspace controlled by Oakland Oceanic (unless the flight diverts via the Philippines)

I'd imagine they would try to keep the bare minimums going for as much as they can. It wouldn't be a complete collapse - just a cascading level of priority.

It hopefully won't reach the point where things actually start really shutting down, but theres only so much people can go on without being paid so.... up to the government now.

 

[SeaWolf]

The FAA has started reducing traffic in US airspace, with 4% flights cancelled on Friday, required to rise to 10% over the next week. Some airports seem to be coping better than others. LAX had 50 cancelled flights on Friday and 160 flights delayed.

Day 1 of air traffic cuts hit travelers hard. But the worst is still to come

Plans to cut flights have left travelers angry and anxious. Some tried to move their travel plans up, while others were trying to figure out alternatives in case their flights were canceled.

www.latimes.com

 

[cove]

With the US government not paying air traffic controllers the slow down is reducing flights. If it goes on to Thanksgiving Giving it will get quite disruptive.

 

[Brissy1]

With the US government not paying air traffic controllers the slow down is reducing flights. If it goes on to Thanksgiving Giving it will get quite disruptive.

Can you sack an employee that you're not paying? Is paying an employee an employment condition?
American rules (not) ok.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Can you sack an employee that you're not paying? Is paying an employee an employment condition?
American rules (not) ok.

My understanding is they get back pay?

Most employees if they’re not getting paid will not turn up to work, but there are several occupations which are legally required to keep working even though they don’t get paid. ATC are one of those.

And yes, you could get fired.

 

[anat0l]

Can you sack an employee that you're not paying?

All of USA except Montana is at-will employment. Basically you can get sacked for any reason, even if your boss doesn't like you're breathing today.

There are only a few exceptions for at-will dismissal (e.g. discrimination, retaliation, etc.) or where legally bound by an employment contract (e.g. contract specifically says you can only be dismissed for cause).

In any case, you still need to pay employees for work actually done, even if you sack them.

I'm not sure about these ATC, but you'd think they would be back paid eventually. Of course the pain is that some of them simply need that money now.

 

[AuSammy]

All of USA except Montana is at-will employment. Basically you can get sacked for any reason, even if your boss doesn't like you're breathing today.

There are only a few exceptions for at-will dismissal (e.g. discrimination, retaliation, etc.) or where legally bound by an employment contract (e.g. contract specifically says you can only be dismissed for cause).

In any case, you still need to pay employees for work actually done, even if you sack them.

I'm not sure about these ATC, but you'd think they would be back paid eventually. Of course the pain is that some of them simply need that money now.

For jobs that require critical thinking concentration and decision making how does that occur if you havent been paid for more than a month, don’t know when you will be paid, you can’t afford to put food on the table for your family and are stressed to the limit outside of work.

The whole situation stinks while politicians play games with total disregard for others who are caught up in the mess.

 

[anat0l]

For jobs that require critical thinking concentration and decision making how does that occur if you havent been paid for more than a month, don’t know when you will be paid, you can’t afford to put food on the table for your family and are stressed to the limit outside of work.

The whole situation stinks while politicians play games with total disregard for others who are caught up in the mess.

I'm sort of more surprised that there is flying still proceeding for that matter. I suppose not every ATC is just walking off the job, even if they could. Maybe some think that they will be sacked if they did, or even worse, a la the great ATC strike from many decades ago.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For jobs that require critical thinking concentration and decision making how does that occur if you havent been paid for more than a month, don’t know when you will be paid, you can’t afford to put food on the table for your family and are stressed to the limit outside of work.

The whole situation stinks while politicians play games with total disregard for others who are caught up in the mess.

I guess it works because at least you have a job, and you’ll get paid, eventually. The alternative would be no job while you search for work, go through the interview process, and wait to get hired.

I tried to find out the salary of air traffic controllers in the states… there are various figures… entry level at (USD)55k, average 100k, median 144k, top earners just over 200k. You’d hope they can get a load to tide over living expenses, or have a pause on mortgage payments.

Some states like Maryland have assistance packages for those furloughed: Maryland Workers Impacted by the Federal Government Shutdown That includes unemployment benefits, food assistance, and even a prohibition on mortgage foreclosure.

A situation like this can’t happen in Australia as the Governor-General has a reserve power to dismiss a prime minister who can’t guarantee supply.

 

[elanshin]

Looks like there may potentially be relief given shutdown may end soon. But seems like this week may still see ATC shortages and it'll be unknown how long it'll take ATC to get back to some level of "normal". At least crisis level failure is potentially averted.

Yesterday I believe the data from flightaware was 11k delays and 3000 cancellations with EWR, LGA, ATL, DCA, ORD copping it the worst for the US. So far today it isn't as bad for delays with 3500 and 1600 flight cancellations.