Air travel chaos continues to plague American airports despite the recent end to the federal government shutdown, with industry experts warning that flight cancellations and delays could persist for up to a week.
Travel Disruptions Continue Unabated
According to recent reports, the busiest airports across the United States are experiencing significant disruptions that show no immediate signs of clearing. Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu confirmed during a Wednesday press briefing that air travel won't return to normal until before the Thanksgiving holiday period.
As of early Thursday afternoon, airport tracker FlightAware reported approximately 1,000 total cancellations and more than 1,400 delays nationwide. The situation appears to be worsening, with close to 400 flights already cancelled for Friday.
Major Airports Hit Hardest
The airports facing the most severe disruptions include Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. These major hubs have been particularly affected by the ongoing travel chaos.
Despite the Federal Aviation Administration halting scheduled increases in flight reductions on Wednesday, the emergency order that reduced flights by 6% this week remains in effect. The FAA had initially planned to increase that reduction to 10% on Thursday but suspended the planned escalation.
Thanksgiving Travel Concerns Mount
With the crucial Thanksgiving travel period approaching, industry leaders are working to minimize disruptions. "I don't think any flights over the Thanksgiving week have actually been cancelled yet," Sununu told ABC News. "The airlines have been pretty tight working with the FAA looking a few days out to be sure. We're still a good week-plus away from that Thanksgiving week."
The Department of Transportation has indicated that the FAA will continue to assess the situation regularly and determine when airlines and airports can safely return to normal operations.
Consumer Confidence Plummets
Despite President Donald Trump signing the funding bill that ended the record 43-day government shutdown on Wednesday evening, consumer confidence in air travel has significantly declined.
A survey conducted by the American Hotel and Lodging Association reveals troubling trends for the travel industry. Nearly one in five Americans have either cancelled or altered their Thanksgiving travel plans due to concerns about transportation reliability.
Rosanna Maietta, president and CEO of American Hotel and Lodging Association, explained to ABC News: "Our poll has shown that consumer confidence has impacted travel, and concerns about that have led to some changes with what we're seeing is that 75% have lost or spent money as a result, already because of being affected negatively by travel and future intentions."
While some airlines are optimistic about recovery—Delta Air Lines stated their operations will be "back to full capacity over the next few days"—the broader travel industry faces significant challenges restoring passenger confidence as the busy holiday season approaches.
