How a shutdown affects airport operations

During a government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues to operate because it is funded through the Transportation Department's existing budget authority. However, other agencies that support airport function do not. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) — which runs security checkpoints — operates on carryover funding but does not pay officers. Airport traffic control towers stay open but controllers work without pay. Baggage screening, customs processing, and airport maintenance all slow down because staff work unpaid or do not show up.

The result is not a complete shutdown of air travel, but a cascading slowdown. Airports with the highest passenger volume and the most complex operations feel the impact first and hardest. Smaller regional airports may see minimal disruption for the first few days, while major hubs experience delays within hours.

Key Takeaways

  • Major hub airports — Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Denver — experience the worst delays because they have the most TSA checkpoints and the highest staffing shortages.
  • International airports are hit harder than domestic-only airports because customs and border processing require federal staff who do not work during shutdowns.
  • Delays typically worsen after three to five days as unpaid staff stop showing up and backlog builds.
  • Regional and smaller airports may operate normally for the first week because they have fewer checkpoints and lower passenger volume.
  • Real-time flight status on your airline's website or FlightAware is more reliable than airport websites during a shutdown.

The airports hit hardest in the first 24 to 48 hours

The busiest U.S. airports feel delays when ready because they depend on the most TSA officers and the most air traffic controllers. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles International (LAX), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), New York JFK, and Denver International (DEN) all report longer security lines and gate delays within the first day. These airports process 40,000 to 100,000 passengers per day, and even a 10 percent reduction in TSA staffing creates bottlenecks that ripple through the entire day.

International airports are affected more severely than domestic-only ones because U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers do not work during a shutdown. Passengers arriving from outside the U.S. cannot clear customs without them. This means flights from London, Tokyo, Mexico City, and other international routes back up on the tarmac or get delayed on the ground in the originating country.

Regional and secondary airports during the first week

Airports like Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), San Francisco (SFO), Miami (MIA), Boston Logan (BOS), and Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) experience delays, but usually not as severe as the top six hubs. They have fewer security checkpoints and lower passenger volume, so the same staffing shortage spreads the impact thinner. A regional airport with one or two TSA checkpoints might see 15-minute delays; a hub with eight checkpoints might see 45-minute delays.

Smaller regional airports — those serving populations under 500,000 — often operate with minimal disruption for the first three to five days. They may have only one security checkpoint and fewer than 10,000 daily passengers. However, if a shutdown extends past a week, unpaid staff absences begin to affect even small airports.

When delays worsen after day three

The first 24 to 48 hours of a shutdown show delays but not chaos. After three to five days, unpaid TSA officers and air traffic controllers begin calling in sick or not reporting to work. Absenteeism rates typically climb from 3 to 5 percent to 10 to 15 percent by day five. At that point, even smaller airports start to see meaningful delays, and major hubs can experience hour-long security lines and flight cancellations.

Baggage handling also deteriorates after day three because airport maintenance and ground crews are unpaid. Bags move slower through the system, connecting flights miss their windows, and the backlog compounds. International flights are delayed further because customs processing slows as officers work without pay and some do not show up.

Airports with international operations face the longest waits

Any airport with significant international traffic — including Miami (MIA), New York JFK, Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Chicago (ORD), Boston (BOS), Washington Dulles (IAD), and Atlanta (ATL) — experiences delays that affect both arriving and departing passengers. Arriving passengers wait for customs clearance. Departing passengers wait for their flights to push back because the arriving flight ahead of them is still being processed.

Airports that serve primarily domestic routes — such as Dallas Love Field (DAL), Las Vegas (LAS), Orlando (MCO), and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) — see delays, but the delays are usually shorter because there is no customs bottleneck. A domestic passenger clears security and boards; an international passenger clears security, then customs, then boards.

How to track real-time delays at your airport

Airport websites often do not update during a shutdown because the airport authority's website team may be furloughed or working without resources. Instead, check your airline's website directly — every major airline maintains a live flight status page that updates in real time. FlightAware.com and FlightRadar24.com also track live flight data and show delays, cancellations, and gate changes without relying on airport infrastructure.

Call your airline directly if you have a flight booked during a shutdown. They can tell you whether your specific flight is delayed or cancelled and whether rebooking is available. Do not rely on email notifications alone — call the airline's customer service line to confirm your flight status before you leave for the airport.

What to expect if your flight is affected

If your airport is experiencing shutdown delays, arrive earlier than usual — typically two to three hours before a domestic flight and three to four hours before an international flight. Security lines move slower, and gate agents have fewer resources to rebook passengers on other flights if yours is cancelled.

If your flight is cancelled, your airline is required to rebook you on the next available flight at no extra cost, or refund your ticket. However, during a shutdown, rebooking options are limited because other flights are also delayed or full. Booking a flight on a different airline may be faster, but you will have to purchase a new ticket unless your original airline agrees to a waiver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will all flights be cancelled during a shutdown?

No. The FAA keeps air traffic control towers open and continues to manage airspace. Most flights operate, but many are delayed. Cancellations happen when delays become so severe that crews exceed their legal flight hours or when international flights cannot clear customs.

Which airports should I avoid during a shutdown?

Avoid flying out of Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Denver in the first week if you can reschedule. If you must fly, arrive three hours early for domestic flights and four hours for international flights. Regional airports have shorter delays.

Do I get a refund if my flight is delayed or cancelled during a shutdown?

Delays alone do not trigger refunds — only cancellations do. If your flight is cancelled, you can rebook on another flight or request a refund. Check your airline's website or call them directly to confirm your options.

How long do airport delays usually last after a shutdown ends?

Once funding resumes, TSA officers and air traffic controllers return to work within one to two days. However, the backlog of delayed flights can take three to five days to clear, especially at major hubs. Expect continued delays for up to a week after the shutdown ends.

Can I change my flight for free if there is a shutdown?

Most airlines waive change fees during a government shutdown if you rebook on a different date. Contact your airline directly — do not rely on automated systems. Some airlines offer this automatically; others require you to call.