WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden administration is sounding alarms over what it calls a perfect storm for air travelers this Thanksgiving, warning that a month-long government shutdown combined with an air-traffic-controller shortage could snarl airports from Washington to Los Angeles just as millions of Americans take to the skies.
White House warns of cascading trouble ahead of the busiest travel week
During an Oct. 23 press briefing in Washington, press secretary Karoline Leavitt cautioned that the federal funding impasse is already eroding the nation’s aviation workforce and may soon choke holiday operations. “We fear there will be significant flight delays, disruptions and cancellations,” Leavitt said at the White House. Her comments mirror a Federal Aviation Administration alert issued after thousands of flights were upended last weekend. According to flight-tracking service FlightAware, U.S. carriers logged 8,697 delays on Sunday alone, with American Airlines accounting for 1,269 delays and 46 cancellations. Southwest Airlines fared worst, posting 2,075 delays—nearly half its schedule—while United Airlines and Delta Air Lines reported 802 and 712 late departures, respectively.
Thanksgiving demand expected to top last year’s record
Despite the uncertainty, passenger appetite is rising. Travel analytics firm Cirium says reservations made between June 20 and Oct. 8 are up 2% compared with the same 2024 window for Thanksgiving travel, and 1% higher for Christmas bookings. Airlines are scrambling to keep pace: both Southwest and American have added more than 100,000 seats apiece for the holiday stretch. American alone handled 8.3 million customers during last year’s Thanksgiving period—an increase of 500,000 passengers between Nov. 21 and Dec. 3 compared with 2023—and executives privately project another jump this November.
Government shutdown squeezes the aviation workforce
The FAA has already cited staffing gaps at key facilities, a problem exacerbated by unpaid or furloughed personnel as the shutdown drags toward the one-month mark. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer amplified the concern, telling reporters, “Airports will be flooded with flight cancellations and delays,” during a recent Capitol Hill briefing. For fliers, the math is sobering: air-traffic-controller vacancies were straining the system before funding lapsed; with overtime restricted and hiring pipelines frozen, each additional departure slot becomes harder to protect from disruption.
What the latest delay numbers reveal
- Sunday, Oct. 26: 8,697 total delays on U.S. departures and arrivals.
- Southwest Airlines: 2,075 delays (≈50% of schedule).
- American Airlines: 1,269 delays, 46 cancellations.
- United Airlines: 802 delays.
- Delta Air Lines: 712 delays.
Problems rolled into the workweek. By late morning Monday, Oct. 27, FlightAware listed:
- Southwest – 281 delays
- KLM – 229 delays
- American – 219 delays
- China Southern – 205 delays
- Air China – 170 delays
With each day of shutdown, the backlog grows, and airlines have limited room to re-accommodate holiday travelers.
Tips for Travelers: Navigating potential Thanksgiving chaos
- Book the earliest flight of the day. Morning departures encounter fewer roll-over delays from prior waves.
- Allow extra connection time. Pad layovers by at least one hour on domestic itineraries; two hours for international links.
- Stay app-alert. Enable push notifications from both your airline and the FAA to track gate changes in real time.
- Consider secondary airports. Flights from Baltimore instead of Washington National, or from Oakland instead of San Francisco, often move more smoothly when hubs clog.
- Keep carry-ons light. Overhead-bin competition intensifies on full holiday flights; gate-checked bags may be delayed when staffing is thin.
- Review refund rules. Federal law requires airlines to reimburse customers for cancellations they initiate, even during a shutdown.
FAQs on Thanksgiving air travel delays
Is the government shutdown solely to blame?
The shutdown has frozen controller hiring and squeezed overtime budgets, but pre-existing staffing shortfalls and surging demand also play major roles.
Which airports are most vulnerable?
Historically busy hubs—Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver and the New York City area—see the greatest ripple effects because each missed departure disrupts multiple onward legs.
How much time should I budget at the airport?
Plan to arrive a minimum of two hours before domestic departures and three hours before international flights during the holiday rush.
Will travel insurance help?
Policies that include “trip interruption” coverage can reimburse meals, hotels and rebooked tickets when delays exceed the insurer’s stated threshold—often six to 12 hours.
Outlook: uncertain skies without a funding deal
Industry analysts stress that every percentage point of passenger growth stretches an already fragile network. Should Congress fail to reopen the government soon, the Thanksgiving week may test the limits of U.S. aviation capacity, forcing travelers to weigh backup plans—or brace for longer lines and later arrivals. For now, airlines continue selling seats, hopeful that lawmakers will deliver a funding agreement before the holiday rush. Passengers, meanwhile, may want to keep an eye on Capitol Hill as closely as the departure board. — as Leavitt said at a White House press briefing.
