Airlines tell passengers to prepare for delays
Hollywood Burbank Airport air traffic control tower is located in Burbank, California, on October 6, 2025.
Mario Tama | Getty Images
A group representing the largest U.S. airlines said Friday that travelers should be prepared for possible flight disruptions this holiday weekend as the government shutdown continues.
A shortage of air traffic controllers this week delayed flights at some U.S. airports, including Burbank, California, and Nashville, Tennessee.
Airlines for America, one of its members, said: “Flying is safe, but ATC staffing shortages are straining the system and causing flights to be intermittent, slowing everything down. In some cases, flights may be delayed or even cancelled.” Delta Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines et al.
Bad weather conditions may also disrupt travel over the long weekend. On Friday, the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for New York, Long Island and parts of Connecticut and New Jersey due to the expected storm.
During the federal government shutdown, “essential” workers such as air traffic controllers and TSA agents are furloughed, while many other employees are furloughed.
The more than month-long shutdown that began in late 2018 ended just hours after a shortage of air traffic controllers disrupted air travel in the New York area.
The absence of air traffic controllers has increased this week as the current shutdown enters its second week, Federal Aviation Administration administrator Bryan Bedford told staff Friday.
“Air traffic controllers still need to be ready to work and perform their critical duties. The safety and efficiency of our airspace depends on them,” he wrote in a memo to employees seen by CNBC. he said.
The first partial paychecks for air traffic controllers will be issued Tuesday, making Oct. 28 the first payday suspended, the controllers’ union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said Friday.
The union said it plans to begin publishing informational brochures at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Tuesday about the effects of the closure on controllers. Similar events are planned at other airports in Washington, DC, Chicago and Philadelphia.
“Participating air traffic controllers and other aviation safety experts plan to engage with passengers to explain how the government shutdown introduces unnecessary risk to the National Airspace System (NAS) and harms efficiency,” the union said. he said.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC earlier this week that the airline has not seen “any impact” to its operations so far due to the closure. However, he said that if it continues for about 10 more days, the situation may change.
According to flight tracking site FlightAware, nearly 3,700 U.S. flights were delayed on Friday; This was below the average daily rate of 4,100 for U.S. airlines so far this year.
