Airport travelers face flight cancellations, long lines amid government shutdown

A passenger sleeps in Terminal 4 during the government shutdown at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Nov. 10, 2025.

A man sleeps on the ground of Terminal C at LaGuardia airport in the Queens borough of New York City on day 41 of the government shutdown, on Nov. 10, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Nov. 7, after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

JetBlue employees help to check passengers in at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Nov. 11, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. The FAA announced last week that flights will be reduced by up to 10% at 40 airports across the country due to a shortage of air traffic controllers since the government shutdown.

Passenger aircrafts taxi at LaGuardia airport in the Queens borough of New York City on day 41 of the government shutdown, on Nov. 10, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Nov. 7, after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

Screens show flights status at Terminal B at LaGuardia airport in the Queens borough of New York City on day 41 of the government shutdown, on Nov. 10, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Nov. 7, after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

A man sleep on the ground of Terminal B at LaGuardia airport in the Queens borough of New York City on day 41 of the government shutdown, on November 10, 2025.

A passenger checks a board displaying cancelled and delayed flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia on November 10, 2025.

American Airlines planes sit at gates at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) on Nov. 9, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The FAA has targeted 40 "high-volume" airports, including Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, for flight cuts amid the government shutdown.

A traveler sits in front of departure display screens showing a small number of cancellations of flights at Denver International Airport on Nov. 9. 2025.

Passengers travel down escalators at Denver International Airport on Nov. 9, 2025.

People look at arrival and departures information at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Nov. 9, 2025. The government-mandated flight cancellations entered their third day on Nov. 9, leaving travelers once again glued to their phones and computers to see whether their flights are among the growing number of cuts.

View of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport from a departing plane on Nov. 9, 2025. The government-mandated flight cancellations entered their third day on Nov. 9, leaving travelers once again glued to their phones and computers to see whether their flights are among the growing number of cuts.

Security lines at normal volume for the day and time at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport's (CLT) departures level on the morning of Nov. 9, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The airport's TSA is fully staffed.

People walk through Denver International Airport on November 8, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. The FAA has targeted 40 "high-volume" airports, including Denver International Airport, for flight cuts amid the government shutdown.

A sign outside the Denver International Airport thanks their federal employees on November 8, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. The FAA has targeted 40 "high-volume" airports, including Denver International Airport, for flight cuts amid the government shutdown.

An American Airlines plane arrives at LaGuardia Airport in the Queens borough of New York City, November 8, 2025.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that 40 major airports will see a 10% cut in flights, starting the morning of Nov. 7. The FAA capacity reductions at airports will ramp up from 4% to 10% over a series of days, the FAA said.

Travelers wait in line at a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois on November 7 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

Travelers arrive at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on November 7, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

A TSA agent directs people as they wait in line at a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois on November 7 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

A screen shows United Airlines 2619 landing at Chicago International Airport O'Hare, a day after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that he would order 10% of flights at 40 major U.S. airports to be cut starting Friday unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., November 6, 2025.

Air travelers face the morning commute at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a day after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that he would order 10% of flights at 40 major U.S. airports to be cut starting Friday unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. November 6, 2025.

A crew member walks at the airport, as air travelers face the morning commute at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a day after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that he would order 10% of flights at 40 major U.S. airports to be cut starting Friday unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. November 6, 2025.

A person walks at the airport, as air travelers face the morning commute at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a day after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that he would order 10% of flights at 40 major U.S. airports to be cut starting Friday unless a deal to end the federal government shutdown is reached, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. November 6, 2025.

A passenger stands by a screen showing delayed flights due to the government shutdown, at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 6, 2025.

Travelers arrive at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on November 7, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

Travelers wait in line at a security checkpoint at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas on November 7, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

An airline employee watches from the airport check-in area as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, bottom right, finished filming a video message to a phone while walking with a group through the terminal at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Transportation Secretary Duffy announced that 40 major airports will see a 10% cut in flights, starting the morning of Nov. 7. The FAA capacity reductions at airports will ramp up from 4% to 10% over a series of days, the FAA said.

A Delta Airlines flight lands at Logan International Airport, as airlines cancelled flights at 40 major airports after the government imposed an unprecedented cut to air travel, citing air traffic control safety concerns because of a record-setting government shutdown, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., November 7, 2025.

An American Airlines aircraft takes off past the air traffic control tower at Logan International Airport, as airlines cancelled flights at 40 major airports after the government imposed an unprecedented cut to air travel, citing air traffic control safety concerns because of a record-setting government shutdown, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., November 7, 2025.

Pilots prepare to travel through Indianapolis International Airport (IND) on November 07, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) will be reducing flights by 10 percent in 40 major airports around the country, including IND, amid air traffic control staffing shortages due to the federal government shutdown that is on its 38th day, making it the longest in American history.

A traveler waits with her luggage at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on November 7, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

Travelers hug at departures Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Indianapolis International Airport in Indianapolis.

Travelers check into their Southwest flight Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Indianapolis International Airport.

Cars are parked in an economy lot surrounded by fall leaf colors on trees at Greenville Spartanburg International Airport in Greer, S.C. Friday, November 7, 2025.

A traveler sits on his luggage as he waits at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, on November 7, 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.