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Travelers brace for chaos as US government shutdown threatens holiday flights

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Thursday, November 6th 2025 at 18:56 GMT by Associated Press
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Why the shutdown hit airlines so hard

The root cause of the cancellations is simple: most airlines rely on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for passenger screening. When the government shut down, TSA agents – who are federal employees – were not paid and had to stop performing their screening duties. As a result, airlines could not safely take off aircraft because they lacked the essential security checks. While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – the agency that oversees air traffic control – remained partially operational because its staff are not fully subject to the shutdown, the lack of TSA clearance made flight operations impossible.

According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), airlines were advised to cancel any flight that could not be secured in time. The airlines were required to issue refunds to passengers and had to coordinate with the FAA and other federal partners to manage the sudden void. The DOT also offered temporary guidance to airlines that allowed them to reduce flights but not operate them without the requisite TSA checks.

Impact on the airlines and their finances

The financial fallout has been severe. United Airlines, the largest carrier by flight volume, reported the cancellation of about 1,600 flights during the shutdown, while American Airlines canceled roughly 1,300. Delta and Southwest also announced thousands of canceled flights, with many of them rescheduled or replaced by charter operations. Airlines were forced to pay for the canceled flights’ fuel, crew time, and other operational costs while receiving no revenue from the tickets. Analysts estimate that the total loss in revenue for airlines could reach $6.4 billion over the course of the shutdown.

In a statement to the media, United’s CEO said that the airline’s ability to maintain service levels “will never be as straightforward as it was before the shutdown.” The airlines have also expressed concerns about the impact on long‑term planning and employee morale, with many pilots and flight attendants scrambling for overtime opportunities or looking for alternate employment to make ends meet.

The passenger experience

The most immediate and human‑oriented impact was on passengers. According to travel blogs and personal accounts, thousands of people were stranded in airports across the country, unable to board flights to see family over Thanksgiving. Many passengers reported being offered no clear guidance from airline representatives, who were themselves overwhelmed by the sudden influx of calls and social‑media inquiries. In many cases, travelers were told that the only option was to book a new flight at a higher fare, a reality that left many with financial losses.

One 45‑year‑old mother from Chicago recounted how her family’s Thanksgiving plans were ruined when their flight was abruptly canceled with only minutes to spare. “We had a reservation for a Friday evening flight, and we were told in the middle of the day that it was cancelled. The airline told us we could’t get any refunds or reschedule until the next day, but we had a family member with a serious health condition.” Stories like hers were shared on social media, quickly turning into a national conversation about the responsibilities of airlines when federal workers are suddenly absent.

Many travelers found themselves stuck in “waiting zones” at major airports such as Chicago O’Hare, New York JFK, and Washington Dulles. The airlines set up temporary ticketing booths to process refund requests, but the queues could last for hours. Several passengers who tried to rebook had to contend with higher fares because of the last‑minute nature of the rescheduling.

Government and industry responses

The DOT and the FAA quickly issued an emergency notice to airlines that the shutdown had ended on a partial basis, allowing certain agencies to resume operations. The U.S. Congress later passed a short‑term appropriations bill that enabled TSA to restart work. However, the damage to travelers’ plans was largely irreparable in the immediate term.

Industry insiders say that the experience highlighted the fragility of the airline’s reliance on federal labor. Some airlines have announced plans to diversify their security staffing, bringing in private contractors to supplement TSA personnel in the future. Meanwhile, the airlines’ trade groups are calling for clearer communication protocols in the event of future shutdowns.

Looking ahead

The shutdown’s impact on the travel industry is a reminder that a government’s internal budgeting battles can have far‑reaching consequences for everyday citizens. As Congress debates the next round of federal funding, many airline executives are urging lawmakers to prioritize a more resilient system that protects travelers while ensuring that federal employees can perform their duties without interruption. The Thanksgiving week that began with hope for family reunions ended instead with cancellations, stranded travelers, and a stark reminder of how interconnected the aviation industry is with the broader federal apparatus.