Airport towers fall eerily silent amid controller crisis as government shutdown drives $4.2B tourism loss for US economy: Live updates

The US Travel Association’s real time cost ticker has found that the government shutdown has cost the country $4.2 billion is tourism spending.

‘This shutdown is doing real, irreversible damage,’ Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the US Travel Association previously said.

‘Travelers are facing longer TSA lines and flight delays. Airports are reducing flights and we’ve seen entire control towers go dark. The longer this drags on, the worse the cascade of damage will be—for local communities, for small businesses and for the country. Congress needs to act now and reopen the government.’

As of 2.30pm ET, 3,093 flights within, into or out of the United States have been delayed and 325 canceled, according to Flight Aware.

A combination of windy weather and staffing shortages have wrecked havoc on airports across the country.

Airports in Nashville, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Newark and Houston after facing delays due to staffing problems.

Washington Dulles is experiencing delays due to wind, while both John F. Kennedy Airport and LaGuardia have been impacted weather and staffing issues.

Air traffic controllers missed their paychecks Tuesday because of the government shutdown.

National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Nick Daniels called the lack of pay a dangerous distraction to staff.

‘America’s air traffic controllers are now having to focus on how they put gas in the car, how do they take care of their children, how do they pay for child care,’ Daniels said.

‘Every day that this shutdown drags on, the system becomes less safe.’

President Donald Trump called on Congressional Republicans to deploy the ‘nuclear option’ of ending the filibuster to bring the government shutdown to an end.

Trump claimed on Truth Social last night that during his meetings with world leaders in Asia ‘the one question that kept coming up… was how did the Democrats SHUT DOWN the United States of America and why did the powerful Republicans allow them to do it?’

‘It is now time for Republicans to play their “TRUMP CARD” and go for what is called the Nuclear Option – get rid of the filibuster and get rid of it NOW!’

Delta Air Lines joined other major aviation companies calling on Congress to reopen the government.

‘Immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government,’ a spokesperson for the airline told CBS News Atlanta.

‘Missed paychecks only increases the stress on these essential workers, many of whom are already working mandatory overtime to keep our skies safe and secure. It’s thanks to these federal employees that Delta is able to carry more than 500,000 daily customers on 5,000 daily flights.

‘A system under stress must be slowed down, reducing efficiency and causing delays for the millions of people who take to the skies every day.’

Transportation Security Administration officers across America’s airports are also working without pay during the government shut.

The agency told The Points Guy on Thursday that checkpoints have been ‘minimally impacted’ nationwide.

‘Occasional delays at some security checkpoints are to be expected,’ a spokesperson said.

‘The longer the shutdown goes on, the more severe the impact on our TSA workforce.’

Kate Nastro, Spokesperson and Travel Expert for Going.com, told the Daily Mail that travelers are entitled to a refund during significant delays, but cautioned passengers to read the fine print.

‘Significant Delays and Cancellations still entitle travelers to a refund or a rebooking, regardless if it’s because of weather, which has still very much been a pain point for travelers during this time period, or due to impacts of the shutdown,’ Nastro said.

‘However, if you experience a significant delay, some additional coverages like overnight stays, meal vouchers, etc., may not be offered by your airline that would have provided them if this were within their control, that’s the key here.

‘If someone misses a connection due to shutdown delays, airlines are technically not entitled to rebook you without additional costs, but in general (and out of goodwill) they do. We haven’t yet seen an airline waiver (meaning you can make changes free of charge ahead of time or day of) for delayed flights due to the shutdown specifically.’

Nastro advised those traveling during the chaos to aim for early flights to avoid delays.

‘Airports like Newark have struggled even before with ATC staffing, so avoiding airports with a higher likelihood for both flying out of and through,’ she said.

‘We would advise people to target early morning flights, think 6-8am, to give themselves the best odds at taking off on time. We’ve seen delays pile up as the day goes on, and any early morning flights have a 25-30 percentage point higher on time arrival rate versus those later afternoon and evening flights.’

The FAA issued a ground delay for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport through 6pm ET on Friday due to staffing shortages.

Arriving flights are experiencing delays averaging 50 minutes, although departing flights have not been impacted.

It is the fourth ground delay at the airport in less than a month, according to KVUE.

Patrick Arnzen, CEO of flight training organization Thrust Flight, told the Daily Mail that the combination of bad weather and staffing shortages is leading to worsening delays.

‘Severe weather always creates ripple effects, but what’s making today’s delays worse is the staffing strain in our nation’s control towers. Air-traffic controllers are the invisible safety net of the national airspace system,’ he said.

‘When storms, traffic and fatigue converge, teamwork and training take over — controllers move into a structured, coordinated rhythm focused entirely on safety, spacing and communication until conditions stabilize.’

Arnzen also warned that artificial intelligence is not the solution to this growing problem.

‘Technology helps, but the heart of air-traffic control is still human judgment. It takes years to develop the instinct to really understand how to do this job—not just efficiently, but also effectively, and composure to make split-second decisions that keep everyone safe. AI can assist, but it can’t yet react fast enough to replace that human intuition,’ he said.

‘There are a lot of key components to keeping everybody safe up there in the skies. The complexity of air traffic control is so great that AI simply can’t react quickly enough to handle it.

‘The current shortage stretches the system’s capacity and limits flexibility to manage unexpected events. Safety remains uncompromised, but we need to invest urgently in recruiting and training the next generation of controllers before fatigue and workload become unsustainable.’

As of 12.30pm ET, 2,199 flights within, into or our of the US have been delayed and 299 canceled, according to FlightAware.

The Federal Aviation Association has issued ground delays across the country due to staffing shortages.

Boston Logan International Airport is experiencing delays over 2 hours, while flights at Newark are delayed about 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is facing delays of 50 minutes and Nashville has delays over an hour.

This year’s Halloween also marks the 31st day of the US government shutdown.

The shutdown began on October 1, the start of the government’s fiscal year, after the Senate failed to pass a funding bill.

Democrats have refused to vote for a Republican-backed, House-passed bill over healthcare subsidies.

Republicans have said they are open to discussing healthcare measures, but insist the government must be opened first.

As a result of a shutdown, federal workers, including military personnel and air traffic controllers, are either furloughed or required to work without pay.

Travelers attempting to navigate airports across America on Halloween have taken to social media with their flight delay horror stories.

The White House shared a video of several aviation workers unions calling for the end of the government shutdown.

Leaders from the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, Allied Pilots Association, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, US Travel and Airlines for America spoke out on the issue.

As of 11:30am ET, 1,755 flights within, into or out of the United States have been delayed and 287 have been canceled, according to FlightAware.

Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey is facing delays over an hour and a half due to staffing shortages and wind conditions, according to the FAA.

Wind has also caused a ground stop at Washington Dulles International Airport.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Nashville International Airport are experiencing ground delays due to staffing shortages.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport is experiencing an average departure delay of 15 minutes due to volume, and Miami International Airport is facing 30 minute delays for the same reason.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that travelers can expect more flight delays in the coming days as the government shutdown continues.

‘Coming into this weekend and then the week after, I think you are going to see even more disruptions in the airspace,’ he told Fox News.

‘Controllers are forced to make a decision. Should I come to work and hopefully get a future paycheck, or do I actually have to put food on the table?’

Duffy’s advice for travelers impacted by delays is to call your senator and tell them to end the shutdown.

‘If you’re delayed, if you are canceled, there is only one mission that you have: call Chuck Schumer and call your senator and tell them to open up the government.’

Flights have been delayed for over an hour at Nashville International Airport due to staffing shortages.

‘The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a ground delay program for Nashville International Airport due to an air traffic control staffing shortage,’ the airport said.

‘Travelers are advised to monitor flight status and contact their airline for updates before arriving at BNA.’

The FAA’s ground delay program is in effect from 11am ET to 6pm ET.

The outlet reported that a six-hour flight delay can cause travelers to spend more than $250 on food, transportation and incidentals.

During an overnight delay, that total can rise past $600, especially during the holiday season.

Several passengers told the Fort Worth Report how this week’s massive flight delays have impacted their travels at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Jorge Cabrera Arroyo, who flew into DFW from Newark, New Jersey, said his flight was delayed nearly 90 minutes which caused him to miss a connecting flight.

‘t’s a major inconvenience, because I have people waiting for me,’ he said. ‘There wasn’t much communication. They didn’t tell us until the last hour. By then, I’ve already missed the flight.’

Dallas resident Kat Johnson, who was at the airport to pick up her sister who was flying from Portland, Oregon, told the newspaper she was forced to change her plans because the flight was delayed by two hours.

‘Maybe we’re going to hit traffic now and just delay planning for our trip,’ Johnson said. ‘So, it’s just getting later and later and, so the planning’s all off.’

Air traffic control shortages have left America’s skies so fraught with danger that horrific plane crashes seem all-but-inevitable, experts have warned the Daily Mail.

Experts warn that the ongoing government shutdown risks triggering a safety spiral, as already short-staffed air traffic controllers call out sick after five weeks without a paycheck.

And those who are hanging on are more stretched than ever.

Some senators have found themselves stranded in Washington, DC, due to delays caused by the government shutdown, according to The Hill.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters after the senate held their last vote of the week on Thursday the his flight at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was impacted.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that 44 percent of delays on Sunday and 24 percent on Monday were caused by air traffic controller absences, compared to 5 percent on average before the shutdown.

The government shutdown means that 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers aren’t being paid, causing huge increases in sick days and absences.

The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels and many had been working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown.

Experts warn the staffing shortages risk triggering a safety spiral as fatigue and stress are increased.

As of 10am ET, 1,375 flights within, into or out of the United States have been delayed, and 267 have been canceled, according to FlightAware.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is experiencing ground delays averaging 50 minutes, and Nashville International Airport is experiencing ground delays over an hour due to staffing issues, the FAA said.

Several passengers have been injured on a JetBlue flight from Mexico to New Jersey after the plane suffered a control issue on Thursday, the airline has said.

JetBlue Flight 1230 – an Airbus 320 – departed Cancun International Airport in Mexico and was headed to New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport when its crew reported a flight control issue, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The plane then landed at around 2.19pm ET in Tampa, Florida.

JetBlue said the plane experienced a drop in altitude and the ‘flight was met by medical personnel who evaluated customers and crew members, and those needing additional care were transported to a local hospital.’

America’s four largest airlines endorsed the Republican-backed funding bill to end the government shutdown and pay air traffic controllers.

‘It has been 30 days – I also think it is time to pass a clean CR,’ United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby told reporters after meeting with Trump administration officials on Thursday.

USA Today reported that Delta Airlines said in a statement that the company ‘implores Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government’ so that all aviation workers get paid/

‘The quickest way to end this shutdown and get these workers paid is by passing a clean continuing resolution (CR),’ American Airlines said.

‘A prolonged shutdown will lead to more delays and cancellations ‒ and the American people, especially during the busy holiday season, deserve better.’

Southwest Airlines called on Congress to ‘immediately resolve its impasse and resume normal government operations.’

‘The public expects and deserves to travel in a system in which air traffic controllers and federal safety and security employees are paid in a timely fashion. We ask Congress to adopt a clean continuing resolution.’

Pictured: United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby (center) meets with Trump administration officials on Thursday

Vice President JD Vance warned Thursday that holiday air travel could become a ‘disaster’ if the shutdown is not resolved.

‘What happens when the security lines are not an hour long, but they’re four hours long? What happens when pilots start not showing up for work because they’re so focused on paying the bills, they can’t fly the plane safely? That’s going to lead to massive delays,’ he said.

Vance added that federal workers missing paychecks could fail to show up for work, further straining airport operations.

Flights lined up for takeoff at New York City airports on Friday morning as the Northeast corridor braces for severe weather and staffing shortage delays.

Passengers faced massive delays at Orlando International Airport overnight after the FAA announced that there would be ‘no certified controllers for a period of time’, which would ‘prevent landings’ at the travel hub, which is the closest major airport to both Disney World and Universal Studios.

The Federal Aviation Administration has listed warnings for possible ground stop/delay programs at several airports across the country today.

The warning went into effect for airports in Los Angeles and San Diego after 9am ET.

Ronald Regan Washington National and San Francisco are expected after 10am ET, while Newark International and Washington Dulles are looking at 11am ET.

The FAA said the program is ‘probable’ at La Guardia and JFK after 12pm ET and Boston Logan after 1pm ET.

Additionally, at Teterboro Airport and Philadelphia, the program is available until 10pm ET.

The international airports in Kelowna, British Columbia, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, have occasionally faced tower closures this year due to a lack of air traffic control staff.

Tim Perry, president of the Canadian branch of the Air Line Pilots Association, deemed the situation untenable.

‘Air Traffic Controller shortages continue, leading to delays at various airports across Canada,’ he said. ‘This lack of stability in Canada’s aviation sector must be addressed.’

Planes were grounded, runways closed, and cascading delays reported at major airports from Washington DC to Boston on Thursday.

The FAA’s Command Center said weather remains the primary cause of the widespread disruptions, with ripple effects expected throughout the day as storms continue to move up the coast.

The disruptions come as a storm has blanketed much of the Northeast on Thursday, which should linger into Friday.

Thousands of flights are being delayed across the US due to staffing shortages amid the government shutdown.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Thursday evening that there would be ‘no certified controllers for a period of time’, which would ‘prevent landings’ at Orlando Airport, the closest major airport to both Disney World and Universal Studios.

As a result of a shutdown, federal workers such as military personnel and air traffic controllers, are either furloughed or required to work for no pay.

At least 787 flights have been delayed, and 242 canceled as of 9am ET, according to FlightAware.

The FAA has already noted arrival delays at Ronald Reagan Washington National of up to 30 minutes and departure delays at Newark International of 15 minutes.

The agency has also noted that several ground stop/delay programs are possible today at airports across the East Coast and California due to weather and staffing shortages.

On Thursday, 7,250 flights were delayed and 1,249 were canceled nationwide.

Airports in Orlando, Dallas/Fort Worth and Washington, DC were particularly hard hit on Thursday due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.