FROM NEW YORK POST: More than 1,600 flights had been canceled by US airlines early Monday, and thousands more were delayed as the longest government shutdown in history entered its 41st day — causing travel chaos at some of the nation’s biggest airports.
At America’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, 11% of incoming flights had been axed as of 9 a.m. Monday and 5% of outgoing flights had been canceled — totaling more than 200 flights in total, according to FlightAware.
Chicago’s two airports were also among those hit the hardest, with almost 300 flights in and out of Chicago O’Hare scrapped and more than 100 in and out of Chicago Midway, the data shows.
More than 2,200 flights within, into or out of the US were also delayed early Monday.
Sunday turned out to be the worst day for air travel since the government shutdown. Monday’s chaos came after nearly 3,000 flights were canceled and over 10,800 were delayed by US airlines on Sunday.
The FAA was forced to undergo air traffic staffing reductions across 40 high-volume airports, as they have been working without pay since Oct. 1. The agency was already experiencing staffing shortages.
According to the FAA, “Air traffic control specialists (ATC) are an elite group of more than 14,000 people working across the country to ensure the safety and flight efficiency of aircraft, pilots, and 2.9 million daily passengers. FAA controllers work from more than 400 locations, including airport towers and radar facilities, monitoring and managing about 50,000 flights a day, during peak travel times.”
On Monday morning, Trump suggested that any air traffic controllers who stayed on the job would be rewarded with a very nice monetary bonus for “distinguished service to our Country.”
One weary traveler who managed to navigate the airports this weekend posted some helpful suggestions on X. @AprilAncira wrote, “After today’s flight I have some thoughts on what you should do if you HAVE to fly.
“Book a direct flight because actually making a connection is probably impossible.
“If you have a direct flight be prepared to wait on the tarmac for take off, aka, buy a water & snacks before getting on, make sure you have gone to the bathroom right before boarding. Our plane got in line today to take off & spent 2 hours inching up to our turn on the runway for take off . They frown on standing up on an active runway.
“It took 2 hours because without enough air traffic control they wanted all the planes super spaced out.”
After today’s flight I have some thoughts on what you should do if you HAVE to fly.
Book a direct flight because actually making a connection is probably impossible.
If you have a direct flight be prepared to wait on the tarmac for take off, aka, buy a water & snacks before…— April Ancira (@AprilAncira) November 10, 2025
The Senate’s agreement that came late Sunday night offers some hope, however. If passed, would keep the government running through Jan. 30. 2026.
The House will likely pass it, and it should be on President Donald Trump’s desk sometime this week. The bipartisan deal will give workers back pay, providing relief to workers and hopefully leading to smoother skies by the busy Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Time to THANK A DEMOCRAT for the travel nightmare at airports across the country! https://t.co/rytgTEb8zC
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 10, 2025
Before the shutdown, an average of 4 controllers retired a day.
That number has now jumped to 15 to 20 a day.
It’s pretty simple — when Democrats vote 14 times against controllers getting paid, it’s hard to convince them to stay in the profession.
End the shutdown NOW. pic.twitter.com/7MpQhPnFIO
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) November 9, 2025
READ MORE AT NEW YORK POST
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