Government shutdown is over, but air travel for holidays could still be extra hectic
Air Traffic Controllers stand outside distributing leaflets explaining how the federal government shutdown is impacting air travel at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Romulus, Mich. AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Everyone takes to the roads, rails and skies to get to their destination for the Thanksgiving holiday. However, things are looking a little different this year amid the government shutdown that just ended last night. Money will soon be flowing from the government again, but immediate improvements in air travel are not expected.
That's mostly because air traffic controllers have two consecutive paychecks, and are increasingly calling in sick. In response, the U.S. Department of Transportation has restricted flight capacity at 40 "high traffic airports," including O'Hare and Midway in Chicago. As a result, more than 10,000 flights have been cancelled since Sunday.
An aviatation expert and a professor, who runs a travel-oriented YouTube channel discuss the current situation at airports and what travelers can expect for holiday travel.
GUESTS
Laurie Garrow
Professor and Aviation Expert, Georgia Tech
Mark Wolters
YouTuber, Wolter’s World
Teaching Associate Professor of Business Administration, Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Academic Director of the Marketing Major Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
