Kaelyn Benoit & Lilyana Vasquez
The Southern Editors
America’s longest government shutdown in the nation’s history has concluded, and with it, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) mandated reduction on outgoing flights. However, despite this reopening, many airfare customers’ hopes may still be forced to remain grounded.
After the 43-day shutdown, President Donald Trump signed a bill on the night of Nov. 12 to reopen the government, allowing air traffic controllers and other essential airline workers to return to paid work. While this is good news for travelers—especially those going home during Thanksgiving—The FAA does warn that flight delays may continue in the coming days.
According to flight tracking website FlightAware, nearly 1,000 flights were canceled and more than 900 delayed, even as the government started its process to return to normal operations.
The Department of Transportation announced that flights at major airports would be reduced due to the government shutdown, this decision being made to ease the burden on essential airport workers who have been working without pay and to maintain flight safety.
Aircraft accident investigator Jeff Guzzetti, who has worked for both the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA, states the importance of this shutdown in regards to airline safety.
“{Cutting flights} will reduce potential risk of an overworked controller, or an understaffed FAA facility, from making a mistake and running two airplanes into each other.” Guzzetti said.
The FAA announced on Nov. 12 that flight reductions will now remain at 6% instead of increasing to 10%, with the shutdown being lifted. However, it is still unclear when full flight schedules and paychecks will be restored.
Sophomore Casey Brunson flies up north every break, and relies solely on air travel to get her back and forth from her destinations
“I pay for my flights out of my own pocket so it’s been pretty stressful not knowing, especially with Thanksgiving flights that are so expensive,” Brunson said. “I’m supposed to land at 1 am, so I’d love it if that didn’t get delayed further.”
Airlines such as American, Delta, United, and Southwest continue to face hundreds of cancellations. While international flights are not affected, domestic routes — especially those connecting college towns to major hubs — may still experience disruptions. Students planning to fly home should check flight statuses regularly and expect limited rebooking options on popular routes.
Many airlines are offering refunds and different rebooking options for passengers affected by flight cuts. According to their respective airline websites, American Airlines is allowing students to change or cancel flights without fees. United Airlines is giving full refunds, even for travelers whose flights weren’t directly canceled. Delta and Southwest are issuing waivers for those in affected areas to rebook or cancel plans without penalty. The Department of Transportation also now requires full refunds for flight cancellations.
Even with the government reopened, staffing shortages remain a major issue for the FAA. According to their statistics, the aviation industry is still short over 3,000 air traffic controllers, many of whom were already working six-day weeks before the shutdown.
Until staffing returns to normal, flight delays and reduced schedules could continue through the holiday season, affecting students traveling long distances.
The reopening of the government brings relief, but flight disruptions aren’t over yet. Students heading home for Thanksgiving should continue to plan ahead: check flight updates often, arrive early to the airport, and have backup plans in case of cancellations.
Hopefully, with these precautions in mind, travelers, their plans, and the airlines will be ready for takeoff just in time for the holiday week.
