(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA) Flight delays continued across the United States on Monday, October 27, 2025, as airports and airlines grappled with a fourth week of the federal government shutdown that has forced many air traffic controllers to work without pay. The disruptions stretched from the West Coast to the East Coast, with Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) suffering one of the most severe slowdowns after a nearly two-hour ground stop on Sunday that delayed about a quarter of flights in and out of LAX.
Shutdown timeline and immediate consequences
The shutdown began on October 1, 2025, and there’s no deal yet to reopen the government. Air traffic controllers are classified as “essential” under federal rules, meaning they must keep showing up for work even while paychecks are halted. Their first $0 paycheck is due Tuesday, October 28, pushing more families to the edge after weeks of uncertainty.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that flight delays and cancellations are likely to rise as stress grows and more workers struggle to cover basic bills.
- Over the weekend, more than 50 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facilities reported short staffing.
- Airlines recorded more than 4,000 delays nationwide, affecting both major hubs and smaller airports.
- When towers and centers run thin, traffic managers deliberately slow the flow of aircraft to preserve safety margins. That keeps operations safe but increases waits at gates, on taxiways, and in the air, and leads to missed connections.
Staffing problems: scale and history
Since the start of the shutdown there have been at least 264 instances of staffing problems at FAA facilities — more than four times the number seen in the same stretch last year. Roughly one in six towers, approach controls, and en route centers are currently understaffed.
- The FAA’s staffing gaps existed before the budget fight; the shutdown has intensified an already tight situation.
- Controllers face fatigue, long shifts, and mounting pressure as unpaid work continues.
Pressure builds inside control rooms
Union leaders say they don’t support any coordinated job action, and federal law bars strikes by air traffic controllers. Still, some workers have reportedly called in sick — a tactic seen in past labor tensions.
- Early-career controllers, who earn less than seasoned colleagues, are particularly vulnerable.
- Some are seeking second jobs to cover rent, childcare, and car loans.
- The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has acknowledged the strain on members and the toll unpaid work takes on families.
Officials and safety experts emphasize that safety is not in question. When staffing is insufficient for normal traffic levels, the FAA reduces takeoffs and landings to preserve safety margins. That approach caused the recent ground stop at LAX and ground delays at Reagan National in Washington, DC.
“When there aren’t enough controllers to handle normal traffic levels, the FAA reduces the number of takeoffs and landings to preserve safety margins.”
This method keeps operations stable but makes schedules far less predictable.
Who’s affected and how
The disruptions are affecting travelers of all kinds:
- Business travelers missing meetings.
- Families enduring long holds with airlines to rebook after cancellations.
- Students and international visitors facing tight schedules for interviews, exams, or connecting flights.
Major hubs like Los Angeles and Atlanta amplify delays — slight slowdowns at these nodes quickly ripple across the network. The human toll on control room floors is significant: controllers make split-second decisions while managing heavy radio traffic, weather, runway closures, and in-flight emergencies. Unpaid work adds additional stress — child care becomes costlier, and some families face hard choices about essentials like rent and groceries.
Practical steps for travelers (What you can do right now)
While workers and policymakers debate next steps, passengers can take simple measures to reduce disruption:
- Check flight status frequently, starting the day before departure.
- Arrive early, especially for morning flights that may bunch up.
- Book longer layovers to protect against missed connections.
- Keep medication, chargers, baby supplies, and critical documents in carry-on luggage.
- Ask your airline about fee waivers or flexible rebooking during the government shutdown.
Airline customer teams are bracing for a difficult week as the first zero-dollar paychecks hit air traffic controllers. Schedules can change with little notice if a facility falls below minimum staffing.
System-level impacts and outlook
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, extended federal funding gaps often expose weak points in transportation systems that rely on steady staffing, training, and overtime. The longer the shutdown lasts, the harder it will be to restore normal flow even after pay resumes.
Officials stress this is primarily a U.S. issue. There are no ongoing French air traffic controller strikes this month; the planned October 7–9 action was called off after talks. The flight delays affecting American airports are not tied to European labor actions.
For now, the FAA is keeping skies safe by cutting traffic to levels current crews can manage. But that strategy carries costs:
- Airlines lose revenue when planes idle at gates.
- Crews can “time out” under duty rules, forcing cancellations.
- Passengers lose time, miss events, and may incur hotel or other last-minute expenses.
- Local economies around airports feel the impact as travel is delayed or canceled.
Monitoring official advisories
To monitor system-wide conditions, travelers and industry staff should check official advisories from the FAA’s traffic managers. The agency posts national planning notices, ground delay programs, and ground stops as they occur.
See the FAA advisories here: https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/advAdvisoryForm.jsp
These advisories typically explain:
– Why a facility is slowing traffic (staffing, weather, equipment).
– How long delay measures may last.
Recent incidents and regional knock-on effects
At LAX, a two-hour ground stop on Sunday created a backlog that spilled into Monday. Even after the stop lifted, crews worked through piled-up departures and arrivals. Reagan National also reported ground delays tied to staffing issues.
When two major nodes reduce capacity, surrounding airports often slow as well. That explains reports from travelers in the Midwest and Mountain West of longer-than-normal taxi times and in-flight holding while waiting for landing slots.
Secretary Duffy’s warning that delays and cancellations are likely to rise carries weight as workers face a $0 paycheck. Each missed pay period increases the chance that more controllers will seek outside income or that fatigue will reduce willingness to accept overtime. Without a clear timeline for ending the shutdown, planning becomes guesswork for families, airlines, and airports.
Final takeaway
Congress holds the key to ending the shutdown and restoring pay. Until then, the aviation system will keep balancing safety with limited staffing: the FAA can reduce traffic to keep risk low, but that means continued flight delays for the public.
Passengers should prepare for a bumpy week and watch for updates from their airlines. For the air traffic controllers guiding every arrival and departure, the next payday cannot come soon enough.
This Article in a Nutshell
The U.S. federal shutdown, active since October 1, 2025, has forced air traffic controllers to continue working without pay, increasing staffing shortfalls and causing widespread flight delays. Major hubs such as LAX experienced severe disruptions — a nearly two-hour ground stop delayed about 25% of flights — while more than 50 FAA facilities reported insufficient staffing and airlines recorded over 4,000 delays nationwide. To preserve safety, the FAA is reducing takeoffs and landings where crews are thin, which stabilizes risk but exacerbates passenger delays and missed connections. Travelers are advised to monitor flight status, allow extra time, and book longer layovers. The outlook depends on Congress restoring funding; prolonged shutdowns risk longer recovery times and wider economic impacts.
