Worst Air-Travel Day Since the Shutdown: 10,000+ Delays, 2,800 Cancellations — And It May Get Uglier

The Washington Post, CNN, the New York Times, and NBC News contributed to this report.

Sunday was a mess in the skies. Airlines scrubbed more than 2,800 flights and logged over 10,000 delays, the worst day for travelers since the government shutdown began, per FlightAware. Big hubs felt it most: New York and Chicago took heavy hits, and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson alone canceled 200+ flights.

The FAA is throttling traffic to ease the strain on air-traffic control centers where controllers are working unpaid, juggling mandatory overtime, and in some cases retiring or picking up other jobs. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy says the cuts are about safety, and warned the pain will intensify: the FAA’s emergency plan steps up to a 6% reduction by Tuesday, with more airports affected.

“The two weeks before Thanksgiving, you’re going to see air travel reduced to a trickle,” Duffy said, calling the number of people who won’t make it home for the holiday “substantial.”

The fallout so far

• 4 million+ passengers have had trips disrupted since Oct. 1, according to Airlines for America.

• Refunds: If your flight is canceled, airlines must issue a full refund. They’re not required to cover hotels, meals, or cars when the cause is outside their control.

• Hot spots: Long delays stacked up across the New York area (LaGuardia, Newark, Teterboro), plus Chicago O’Hare and Atlanta.

• Private jets aren’t dodging it — Duffy says their operations are being restricted or shifted to smaller airports to free up capacity at big hubs.

The Senate took a procedural step Sunday toward reopening the government, but any deal still needs to clear both chambers and then the White House. Even if the shutdown ends quickly, Duffy says staffing gaps — 1,000–2,000 controllers short, with 15–20 retiring daily — mean the ripple effects could extend beyond the reopening.

Traveling soon? Quick advice

• Check early, check often. Use your airline’s app to track your exact flight and inbound aircraft.

• Consider nonstops to reduce your odds of a misconnection.

• Have a Plan B. Airlines are waiving change fees broadly; if timing is critical, look at alternative flights, nearby airports, or rail.

• Know your rights. Canceled flight = refund eligible, even on nonrefundable fares.

Sunday was bad. Without a funding deal, the cuts escalate and the holiday crunch could be brutal.