Air Travel Chaos: The Federal Shutdown's Toll on Flights

Nationwide air travel disruptions have escalated with over 2,700 flights delayed on Monday and more than 8,600 on Sunday, amid a federal government shutdown in its 27th day. Air traffic controller shortages affected flights nationwide, particularly in the Southeast and at Newark Airport in New Jersey.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported shortages across the board, leading to delays at Los Angeles International Airport averaging 25 minutes. According to FlightAware, Southwest Airlines saw 45% of its flights delayed on Sunday, while American Airlines faced delays for nearly a third of its flights. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines also observed significant delays.

With about 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers working without pay, the Trump administration warned of increasing disruptions as controllers missed a full paycheck. Public frustration grows, amplifying calls for lawmakers to end the budget deadlock. The FAA remains short of 3,500 air traffic controllers, with further disruptions feared as the shutdown prolongs.