How Government Shutdown Is Affecting Air Travel and Air Traffic Control

From controllers working without pay to delayed flights, here’s what the shutdown means for U.S. air travel.

An Alaska Airlines plane takes off near the air traffic control tower at Los Angeles International Airport in in Los Angeles on Oct. 22, 2025. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Air travel has been increasingly disrupted due to staffing shortages caused by the federal government shutdown.

As the shutdown nears the four-week mark, many air traffic controllers and other airport staff continue to work without pay, but worker shortages are causing problems.