How the Government Shutdown Affects International Flights and Customs

International travel to and from the United States 🇺🇸 is still moving, but the current government shutdown is straining the system beneath the surface. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said international flights will keep running on their regular schedules despite the funding lapse, and airlines have continued to operate overseas routes. The pressure point is inside the country: domestic air traffic control limits that began November 7 are forcing airports to scale back flights, a step that has already sparked hundreds of cancellations and delays that spill into global networks.

Domestic air-traffic limits and airline cuts

The Federal Aviation Administration’s direction to major U.S. airports to reduce flight volumes led to significant schedule disruptions.

• Delta canceled more than 200 mainline flights and 180 Delta Connection services on a single Saturday.
• More cancellations are expected as staffing issues persist.

These cuts tighten connections for inbound and outbound overseas trips, which can delay crews and aircraft that international flights rely on. Airlines say they’re trying to protect long-haul routes first, but when ground operations jam up, even protected flights can arrive late, miss slots, or wait for gates.

Key risk: When an inbound connection is delayed, it can cause crews to time out and aircraft to roll into the next day’s schedule, multiplying disruption.

Workers on duty without pay — operational and safety risks

People keeping planes moving — air traffic control specialists and TSA officers — remain on the job but without pay. That raises risks if the shutdown drags on.

• During the 2018–2019 shutdown, TSA reported about 10% of its officers had unscheduled absences, causing checkpoint closures and long security lines.
• If absenteeism rises now, travelers on international flights could face slower screening, missed departures, and greater rebooking problems.

Unions representing controllers and TSA officers have warned about fatigue and burnout during unpaid periods, a factor that can degrade performance over time.

Customs and Border Protection: open but limited

In a statement dated October 1, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said it remains open during the shutdown and that all ports of entry are staffed for core functions, including:

• Passenger screening
• Tariff collection
• Cargo processing

CBP emphasized it would continue essential operations to keep global trade and travel moving. For official updates on port operations and travel processing, travelers can check U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Limits behind the continuity

Although CBP is operating, capacity is reduced:

• CBP workforce was about 66,000 as of mid-2024.
• Around 61,000 stayed on to perform essential roles during the shutdown, while thousands of support staff were furloughed.

Consequences of reduced staffing:

• Documentation review, duty assessment, and deeper compliance checks proceed more slowly.
• Importers and cargo handlers notice delays first, which can ripple into airport operations as shipments take longer to clear.

Partner agencies, specialized reviews, and impacted goods

Several Participating Government Agencies (PGAs) are operating at reduced capacity, causing further delays for certain imports:

• Agencies include FDA, CPSC, EPA, and FWS.
• Items most exposed: food, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products that require sanitary or environmental clearance.

If a shipment needs specialized sign-off, it can sit and tie up warehouse space and trucking schedules. That sometimes forces airlines to reshuffle cargo loads.

Border and freight bottlenecks

Real-world frictions are already showing at the border and cargo hubs:

• On October 9, wait times of up to six hours were reported at the Ciudad Juárez–El Paso crossings, critical for tomatoes, avocados, and berries.
• No similar delays were reported that day at checkpoints along the U.S.-Canada 🇨🇦 border, reflecting uneven pressure.

Air freight vulnerabilities:

• TSA officers at cargo hubs in Memphis, Tennessee, and Louisville, Kentucky are working without pay — raising vulnerability to absenteeism.
• Domestic air traffic control limits increase ground times and reduce flexibility for time-sensitive shipments.
• New aircraft certifications have paused during the shutdown, delaying updated equipment entry and extending use of older gear.

Workarounds by travelers and businesses

Stakeholders are adapting to reduce disruption:

• Importers use bonded warehouses — more than 1,700 nationwide — to park goods without paying duties until release.
• Logistics firms reroute freight to less crowded ports and push customers to complete pre-clearance steps early.

These measures help but do not eliminate friction. Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests such adjustments typically raise short-term costs for shippers and provide only partial relief when system-wide staffing is constrained.

Economic stakes and broader impact

The economic consequences are material:

• During the 35-day 2018–2019 shutdown, the Congressional Budget Office estimated a roughly $8 billion hit to U.S. GDP in the first quarter, with retail, auto, and manufacturing among the hardest hit.
• The U.S. Travel Association estimates the current shutdown costs the travel industry about $1 billion per week, counting lost spending from canceled trips and knock-on effects from delays and service cuts.

Practical guidance for travelers

Airlines say they are prioritizing international flights while trimming short-haul schedules to match air traffic control capacity. Passengers should plan accordingly:

1. Build in extra time for connections, especially when connecting from a domestic leg to a long-haul flight.
2. Expect slower security screening if absenteeism rises among TSA officers.
3. Anticipate variable customs processing times depending on port and cargo contents.
4. Monitor official updates from airlines and CBP: U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Important: International flights are authorized and operating, but the margin for error is thin. The longer the shutdown continues, the greater the chance that small delays will become larger disruptions affecting departures, schedules, and supply chains.

Overall takeaway

Customs processing and international routes are being kept open, but hidden bottlenecks in air traffic control, supporting inspection systems, and partner-agency clearances are tightening the system. Airlines, CBP, and screening officers are keeping the doors open, yet reduced staffing and paused certifications raise the risk that minor delays could scale into significant cancellations and broader economic effects if the shutdown endures.