The ongoing federal government shutdown is beginning to severely impact the US travel industry, with rising cancellations, mounting delays, and growing uncertainty among travellers as Congress remains deadlocked over funding.
Now in its ninth day since starting on October 1, the shutdown has left key aviation workers — including air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners — without pay. Many have started calling in sick, leading to staff shortages that are straining airport operations nationwide.
Travelers are reacting by cancelling trips or postponing travel plans until the government reopens. Industry representatives fear the disruption could worsen over the upcoming Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day holiday weekend — traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the season.
Geoff Freeman, president of the US Travel Association, warned that the shutdown is arriving at a particularly damaging time. “This coincides with peak corporate travel season at a time when the industry is already struggling to reach its full potential,” he said. “If we introduce concern into the system — concern about delays, cancellations, or less efficient TSA operations — we’re leading people to stay in the office. It’s another reason for people to stay home, whether they’re Americans or foreign visitors avoiding the United States.”
The shutdown’s effects may also have long-term consequences. According to US Travel and Oxford Economics, the United States is projected to be the only major travel market expected to see a decline in foreign tourism spending in 2025. Inbound visits are forecast to fall 6.3% year-over-year to 67.9 million, even as domestic travel rises by 1.9%.
While Delta Air Lines reported improving sales in recent weeks, concerns remain high. “Travellers are anxious,” said Peter van Berkel, president of Travalco, an inbound tour operator. “We’re getting questions like, ‘Can we still fly? Are people able to enter the country?’ It’s creating hesitation among international visitors.”
The shutdown’s impact on air travel is already visible. Nearly 12,000 flights were delayed and around 200 cancelled between Monday and early Tuesday, in part due to staffing shortages at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Aviation experts warn that if the impasse drags on, service quality will continue to erode. “If it continues, passengers will see an erosion of service as frustrated air traffic controllers and TSA officers get tired and call in sick,” said Sheldon Jacobson, a University of Illinois professor who helped design the TSA PreCheck system.
The last major government shutdown — the longest in US history — lasted 35 days during Donald Trump’s presidency. While it’s unclear how long the current standoff will continue, industry leaders fear a similar scenario could further cripple the travel sector in the weeks ahead.
