Airports stay open during a shutdown, but with reduced staff and services

A federal government shutdown does not close airports. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), air traffic control towers, and airport operations continue because they are considered essential services. However, staffing levels drop significantly—TSA officers, air traffic controllers, and airport maintenance workers either work without pay or do not show up, which creates delays, longer security lines, and occasional flight cancellations.

The airports themselves remain open and operational. What changes is the speed and reliability of the services that move you through them. A shutdown lasting more than a few days typically causes measurable disruptions at major hubs, where passenger volume is highest and staff shortages hit hardest.

Key Takeaways

  • All U.S. airports remain open during a shutdown, but TSA screening and air traffic control operate with reduced staff.
  • Major hub airports—Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York—experience the longest delays because they handle the most flights and passengers.
  • Smaller regional airports usually see fewer delays because they have fewer flights and lower passenger volume.
  • TSA officers and air traffic controllers work without pay during a shutdown, which increases the likelihood of absences and slower processing.
  • Flight cancellations are more common on day three or later of a shutdown, when staff absences accumulate.

Major hub airports see the worst delays

The five busiest U.S. airports by passenger volume are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW), Chicago O'Hare International (ORD), Los Angeles International (LAX), and John F. Kennedy International (JFK). These airports handle roughly 40 percent of all U.S. air traffic. During a shutdown, they experience the longest security lines and the most flight delays because a single absent TSA officer or air traffic controller affects dozens of flights per hour.

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson, which processes more than 110 million passengers per year, is particularly vulnerable. A 2 percent absence rate among TSA officers there translates to 20 to 30 fewer screeners per shift, which can add 30 to 60 minutes to wait times during peak hours. Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago O'Hare see similar effects because they are major connection hubs—delays cascade across the network when connecting flights are missed.

New York's three major airports (JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark) together handle roughly 140 million passengers per year. During the 2018–2019 shutdown, which lasted 35 days, these airports reported average security wait times exceeding two hours during morning peak hours.

Regional and smaller airports experience fewer disruptions

Airports serving populations under 5 million—such as those in cities like Austin, Nashville, San Diego, and Portland—typically see minimal delays during a shutdown. These airports have fewer flights per hour, so a single absent staff member affects fewer passengers. A regional airport might handle 200 to 400 flights per day, compared to 2,000 or more at Atlanta or Chicago.

However, even small airports are not immune. If a regional airport's air traffic control tower operates with only one or two controllers and one calls out sick, that tower may need to reduce the number of aircraft it can handle simultaneously, which causes delays. The impact depends on how many staff members are absent on any given day, not on the size of the airport alone.

TSA screening slowdowns are the most visible effect

The TSA employs roughly 60,000 officers nationwide. During a shutdown, officers work without pay. Historical data shows that absences typically range from 5 to 10 percent on day one, rising to 10 to 15 percent by day three or four. At a major airport with 200 TSA officers per shift, a 10 percent absence rate means 20 fewer screeners, which extends wait times by 20 to 40 minutes during off-peak hours and 45 to 90 minutes during morning and evening peaks.

The TSA cannot hire temporary replacements during a shutdown because the agency has no budget authority. Remaining officers work longer shifts to compensate, which increases fatigue and slows processing further. Some airports have reported that officers skip breaks entirely to maintain throughput, which is unsustainable beyond a few days.

Air traffic control delays compound security line problems

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employs roughly 14,000 air traffic controllers. Like TSA officers, they work without pay during a shutdown. Controllers manage the flow of aircraft on the ground and in the air. When controllers are absent, towers reduce the number of aircraft they allow to take off or land per hour, which creates a bottleneck even if security screening is running smoothly.

A single controller absence at a busy tower can reduce throughput by 10 to 15 percent. At an airport handling 100 departures per hour, that means 10 to 15 fewer flights per hour, which translates to delays of 30 minutes to two hours for affected flights. Controllers also work longer shifts without breaks, which slows their decision-making and increases the time between clearances.

Flight cancellations increase after day three

Most airlines can absorb delays of one to two hours by adjusting schedules and using spare aircraft. However, when a shutdown extends beyond three days, cancellations become common. Airlines cancel flights for several reasons: crews reach duty-time limits because of delays, aircraft are out of position due to backed-up departures, and some airlines reduce schedules preemptively to avoid cascading cancellations.

The 2018–2019 shutdown saw cancellation rates rise from roughly 1 percent on day one to 2 to 3 percent by day ten. Most cancellations occurred at major hubs because those airports had the most severe delays. Regional carriers and airlines with smaller networks sometimes saw higher cancellation rates because they had fewer spare aircraft and less scheduling flexibility.

Cargo and freight operations also slow down

Cargo flights and freight operations depend on the same TSA screening (for crew and ground personnel) and air traffic control as passenger flights. During a shutdown, cargo flights experience the same delays as passenger flights. Some cargo operators report that the unpredictability of delays makes it difficult to meet delivery commitments, which can affect supply chains for time-sensitive goods.

International cargo flights are particularly affected because they require additional customs and border protection screening, which also operates with reduced staff during a shutdown. A delay of several hours for an international cargo flight can cascade across multiple destinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my flight be cancelled if there is a shutdown?

Cancellations are unlikely in the first two days but become more common after day three. Most delays are 30 minutes to two hours. Check your airline's website or call them directly for your specific flight status. Airlines update cancellations as staff absences become clear, usually by early morning for that day's flights.

Which airports should I avoid during a shutdown?

Avoid Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York if possible. If you must travel through one of these hubs, arrive at least three hours early for domestic flights and four hours for international flights. Smaller regional airports typically have shorter wait times and fewer delays.

Do I need a passport or special documents to fly during a shutdown?

No. TSA screening requirements do not change during a shutdown. You need a valid government-issued ID for domestic flights and a passport for international flights, the same as always. The shutdown affects processing speed, not documentation requirements.

Will TSA PreCheck or Global Entry lines be faster during a shutdown?

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry lanes operate with the same reduced staffing as standard screening. Both may see longer waits, though PreCheck lines typically move faster because they process fewer passengers per officer. Dedicated PreCheck lanes may close entirely at smaller airports if staffing drops too low.

How long do delays typically last once the shutdown ends?

Delays usually clear within 24 to 48 hours after a shutdown ends, as staff return and the backlog of delayed flights clears. However, if a shutdown lasts more than two weeks, it can take three to five days for operations to fully normalize because aircraft and crews are scattered across the network.