Delta Air Lines said on Thursday that its operations will be back to “full steam ahead” by the weekend after the U.S. government shutdown ended on Wednesday night, November 12, 2025, a move that could ease days of disruption for travelers across the United States 🇺🇸. Chief Executive Ed Bastian told CBS Mornings that Delta expects flight schedules and staffing to snap back quickly as federal workers return and receive pay, adding that the carrier is prepared to restore normal service in time for the busy holiday rush.
“I expect by the weekend, we’re going to be full steam ahead,” Bastian said, pointing to the expected rapid return of federal air traffic and safety staff. “They’re going to get paid in the next day or so and as a result I think the system should return to normal by the weekend, and normal for us, is incredibly safe and an incredibly reliable experience.” Delta Air Lines framed the weekend target as a practical benchmark for restoring regular throughput, with Bastian underlining that the carrier’s definition of normal includes close attention to safety and on-time performance. He also reassured travelers that Thanksgiving travel “is going to be a great holiday period of travel,” saying the airline is ready to handle peak demand.
What caused the disruption
The shutdown brought a cascade of operational limits that hit airlines’ schedules. Bastian described how a minor storm in Atlanta—usually manageable—turned into a major bottleneck when combined with low staffing at federal facilities.
- Arrival rates at Hartsfield-Jackson fell from a normal 80 per hour to 20, forcing hundreds of cancellations and rippling across the network.
- The squeeze, he added, disrupted “tens of thousands of people’s plans.”
- Across the span of the shutdown, Delta recorded “a little over 2,000 cancellations,” showing how modest weather bumps can compound into broad delays when federal capacity is constrained.
Signs of recovery
Delta emphasized that recovery is already underway.
- “Yesterday, we were over 90% on time systemwide every flight all day long,” Bastian said, pointing to a rebound the company expects to hold as agencies restore staffing at key nodes.
- The company is focused on stabilizing flight banks and crew assignments as the federal system resets, aiming to clear residual backlogs before the weekend.
- Delta expects a quick normalization of gate flows, aircraft rotations, and crew connections as schedules align with restored air traffic control capacity.
Key takeaway: With federal staff returning and pay resuming, the airline expects core chokepoints—air traffic control throughput and terminal operations—to improve each day.
Safety and federal actions
Bastian addressed safety concerns directly:
- “Oh, it’s incredibly safe to fly. It’s the safest form of transportation,” he said.
- He praised federal steps to slow the system when worker pay stoppages made normal volumes risky: “Secretary Duffy did the right thing by getting ahead when they saw that the staffing levels and the controllers were having a difficult time managing without getting paid. Pulling proactively the schedules down was right.”
- With controllers back on duty and pay resuming “in the next day or so,” he reiterated confidence that the system would return to normal by the weekend.
Passenger flexibility and refunds
For passengers affected by cancellations or delays tied to the shutdown period, Delta is offering added flexibility.
- The airline has allowed changes, cancellations, or refunds without penalty during this window to help travelers rebook plans disrupted by reduced arrival rates and weather spillovers.
- The U.S. Department of Transportation’s rules on refunds provide a framework for when customers are owed money for canceled or significantly changed flights; official guidance is available here: U.S. Department of Transportation guidance on airline refunds.
- Delta’s temporary policy goes beyond normal conditions by waiving penalties, and it is encouraging customers to use its app or website to adjust itineraries.
Outlook for the holiday surge
The timeline matters because the next major test is the holiday surge.
- Bastian said “Thanksgiving is going to be a great holiday period of travel,” and that Delta is “ready for holiday travel.”
- He framed the rush as a stress test for both airlines and federal partners who manage air traffic flow.
- Delta’s goal: clear the shutdown drag well before the heaviest travel days so customers see stable departure times, full staffing at gates, and predictable connections across hubs.
Near-term expectations and the weekend target
The shutdown ended on Wednesday night, November 12, 2025, closing a disruptive chapter that saw government-mandated arrival cuts at major airports and knock-on effects across carriers.
- Bastian acknowledged that some residual delays may persist as crew and aircraft “reset” across the network.
- He tied the weekend target—Saturday and Sunday, November 15–16—to the return of regular staffing and the recalibration of flight banks that anchor morning and evening peaks.
- On Thursday, Delta reported strong punctuality across its schedule, a sign Bastian said shows the airline can move quickly once federal partners are in place.
Practical advice for travelers
Travelers weighing whether to reschedule may find Delta’s added flexibility helpful.
- Consider shifting travel to later in the week if you prefer greater predictability.
- Use the Delta app or website to change or rebook flights without penalty during the recovery window.
- For refunds or more detailed consumer rights, consult the Department of Transportation guidance: U.S. Department of Transportation guidance on airline refunds.
Quote: “Normal for us, is incredibly safe and an incredibly reliable experience,” — Ed Bastian
Industry and media reaction
Industry watchers noted Delta’s posture and customer measures.
- VisaVerge.com, which tracks policy and travel disruptions, highlighted Delta’s pledge to restore normal operations by the weekend and the expanded flexibility for affected customers.
- According to VisaVerge.com’s analysis, these steps mirror how major carriers tend to respond when federal constraints ease, aiming to restore confidence before peak periods like Thanksgiving travel.
Final summary
- Delta experienced over 2,000 cancellations during the shutdown, illustrating how federal capacity drops amplify operational issues.
- Early performance data—*“over **90% on time”*—suggests a meaningful rebound.
- With the shutdown over and federal partners returning to normal rhythms, Delta expects the weekend of November 15–16 to resemble typical pre-holiday operations: full flights, standard throughput, and punctual departures.
- The airline continues to offer penalty-free changes, cancellations, or refunds during this recovery window.
This Article in a Nutshell
After the U.S. government shutdown ended on November 12, 2025, Delta expects operations to return to normal by the weekend of November 15–16 as federal air traffic and safety staff resume work and receive pay. The shutdown caused cascading operational limits, over 2,000 Delta cancellations, and a drop in arrival rates at Hartsfield-Jackson from 80 to 20 per hour. Delta reported systemwide on-time performance above 90% and is offering penalty-free changes, cancellations, and refunds while crews and aircraft reset before Thanksgiving.
