Analysts predict that the ongoing government shutdown, which has already led to numerous flight cancellations, will continue to disrupt air travel in the coming days, even if a deal is reached in Congress soon.
The Senate voted Sunday night to advance a potential agreement to end the shutdown, possibly by the week’s end. However, experts note that travelers shouldn’t expect an immediate return to normalcy, as the situation has impacted even the wealthiest of travelers.
Airlines are still faced with adjusting their complicated flight schedules, managing necessary maintenance, and dealing with disgruntled air traffic controllers and TSA agents who are coming back after a long break.
“The damage has already been done,” said an aviation analyst, referring particularly to passengers whose Thanksgiving and Christmas flights were canceled. Many found themselves having to reschedule flights, which has added to frustrations. The analyst emphasized that changing airline schedules is akin to piecing together a complex puzzle, suggesting that it’s unlikely airlines will reverse their cancellation decisions.
He thinks they’ve already made cuts and will aim to recover lost revenue post-Christmas. Yet, the good news is that most travel issues should settle down by the time the holidays roll around.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that if the shutdown extends, many Americans might miss out on Thanksgiving with their families.
Currently, over 40 airports are facing flight reductions due to staff shortages at radar centers and control towers, and more cuts may occur if the shutdown persists through Friday.
On Monday alone, more than 1,700 flights were canceled, marking the 41st day of the government shutdown. The previous day had already seen over 2,000 cancellations, largely attributed to poor weather conditions.
Travel disruptions are affecting even a small fraction of the population, and private jets have been largely restricted at 12 major airports, including New York’s JFK and Newark Liberty Airport, as the FAA works to resolve air traffic staffing issues.
How quickly things return to normal for the airlines will be influenced by how fast the FAA lifts its flight restrictions at the affected airports and how displaced airline crews are following the disruptions, according to the communications director for a flight tracking site.
Right now, it looks like airlines are prioritizing adding new flights rather than reinstating previously scheduled ones.
Beyond that, there’s the question of TSA officers’ willingness to come back to work after experiencing more than 40 days of reduced pay and potential second job obligations. There’s the possibility that some might rethink their future in the job after being furloughed.
Meanwhile, President Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with air traffic controllers who took time off during the shutdown, suggesting on social media that those who didn’t report to work might have a “negative mark” on their record and even lose any severance payments should they decide to retire soon.
