Air traffic across the United States is severely impacted by staffing shortages amid a government shutdown. On November 7, 2025, operations at various airports faced extensive delays, frustrating many travelers. The situation arose due to a lack of personnel at several key air traffic control facilities.
Staffing Shortages Across the Nation
According to a recent operational report, air traffic control services experienced staffing shortages on 32 occasions that day. These deficits have led to significant delays, with flights waiting for hours.
Facilities Affected
- Air Traffic Control Towers: Shortages reported in locations such as Austin, Burbank, Newark, New Orleans, Ontario, San Francisco (twice), Tampa, and Washington, DC.
- Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON): Facilities in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston (twice), Newark (twice), Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix, and Southern California (three areas) faced understaffing.
- Air Route Traffic Control Centers: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas (twice), Jacksonville, and Washington, DC experienced shortages.
Significant Flight Delays
Travel disruptions were severe, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reporting alarming average delays:
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport – 4 hours
- William Hobby Airport, Houston – nearly 3 hours
- George Bush Intercontinental, Houston – incoming delays of 46 minutes; departures delayed by 30 minutes
- Phoenix – 90 minutes
- Chicago O’Hare – 1 hour
- San Francisco International – 1 hour
- Dallas Love Field – 30 minutes
- Austin, Texas and Manchester, New Hampshire – approximately 45 minutes
Ongoing Challenges During the Shutdown
Fridays have become particularly problematic for air traffic controller staffing during the shutdown. Many controllers have sought additional employment to cope financially. Since the shutdown began, there have been 482 documented cases of staffing issues, a figure that significantly exceeds the previous year’s statistics for the same period.
As the government shutdown persists, travelers can expect continued disruptions in air travel across the nation. The effects on the aviation industry underline the urgency for a resolution to staffing and operational challenges.
