Table of Contents
- Delays Hit Major Airports
- What’s Behind the FAA Shutdown?
- Air Traffic Controllers on the Brink
- Passenger Stories: Stranded and Frustrated
- What Travelers Should Do Now
- Historical Context: 2019 vs. 2025
- Sources
Flight Delays Hit Major Airports
Flight delays are surging across the U.S. as air traffic staffing shortages worsen—just hours after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that a government shutdown could cripple the skies.
On Monday night, travelers flying into Newark Liberty International Airport faced average delays of nearly 60 minutes. Denver International saw 40-minute holdups. But the worst hit was Hollywood Burbank Airport near Los Angeles, where incoming flights were delayed by over two and a half hours.
Why? The Burbank control tower had zero air traffic controllers on duty. Instead, Southern California TRACON in San Diego—a facility already stretched thin—had to manage Burbank’s airspace remotely.
What’s Behind the FAA Shutdown?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is caught in the crosshairs of a broader federal government shutdown that began last week. While air traffic controllers are deemed “essential” and must continue working, they won’t receive pay until the shutdown ends.
“If we think there’s issues in the airspace, we will shut it down,” Secretary Duffy said bluntly. “We will close it down. We will delay.”
The FAA has activated its ground delay program—a traffic management tool that holds departing flights at origin airports if the destination can’t handle arrivals safely or efficiently.
Air Traffic Controllers on the Brink
Controllers are legally required to report for duty during shutdowns, but morale is plummeting. According to Duffy, there’s already been a “slight tick-up” in sick calls since the shutdown began—a troubling echo of 2019, when mass sickouts forced the government to end the shutdown early.
With no paycheck in sight and mounting stress, experts fear more controllers may follow suit, triggering cascading delays nationwide.
Key Airports Affected (as of Oct. 6, 2025)
| Airport | Average Delay | Cause |
|---|---|---|
| Newark Liberty (EWR) | ~60 minutes | Staffing shortages |
| Denver International (DEN) | ~40 minutes | Staffing shortages |
| Hollywood Burbank (BUR) | 150+ minutes | Unmanned control tower |
| Boston Logan (BOS) | Ongoing delays | Runway construction + staffing strain |
Passenger Stories: Stranded and Frustrated
Kurt Duffens, 69, flew in from Portland only to learn mid-air that Burbank’s tower was unmanned. “I wouldn’t have flown,” he said after landing. “I actually would’ve gone to LAX had I known.”
Stories like Duffens’ are becoming more common as travelers scramble to adjust plans with little warning.
What Travelers Should Do Now
- Check flight status hourly via airline apps or FAA.gov
- Consider flying into alternate airports (e.g., LAX instead of BUR)
- Build in buffer time—delays may last 2–3 hours even on short routes
- Monitor news for shutdown updates; rural air service may halt by Sunday
Historical Context: 2019 vs. 2025
During the 35-day government shutdown in 2019, air traffic controllers began calling in sick en masse, leading to massive delays at major hubs like LaGuardia and Reagan National. The chaos pressured Congress to reopen the government within days.
Now, with another shutdown underway, the same warning signs are flashing—but this time, rural communities could lose subsidized flights entirely if funding runs out by Sunday.
