What Happens to Air Travel If the Government Shuts Down Again? A Practical Guide.

What If the Government Shuts Down Again? How It Impacts Air Travel — and How to Avoid Getting Stuck

Every time the term government shutdown hits the news cycle, the travel industry collectively holds its breath. And for good reason: the last major shutdown cost the U.S. air travel system more than $11 billion, created massive security wait times, and caused ripple-effect delays across the country.

So what actually happens to air travel when the government shuts down — and what can you do right now to protect your team, your event, or your own travel plans?

Let’s break it down simply.

How a Government Shutdown Affects Air Travel

Before you picture airports shutting down entirely, here’s the important part:

Airports stay open. Flights continue.
But the people who keep the system running — TSA officers, air traffic controllers, customs agents — are forced to work without pay until funding is restored.

And that’s where problems begin.

1. Longer TSA Lines

During the last shutdown, TSA workers called out sick at record levels, creating long lines, closed security lanes, and last-minute gate changes.

2. Delays & Air Traffic Control Issues

Air traffic controllers already operate under high stress and low staffing. Unpaid work only adds pressure — and any staffing shortage creates bottlenecks that slow the entire system.

3. Slower Airport Operations

Everything from customs processing to flight routing takes longer.
And when one major airport slows down, the delays cascade across the country.

How to Avoid Getting Stuck During a Shutdown

Here are three smart, practical strategies to dramatically reduce your risk of delays, missed connections, and travel chaos.

1. Fly Into (or Out Of) Major Hubs

During a shutdown, smaller regional airports are more vulnerable to staffing shortages and limited operating hours.

Major hubs, on the other hand, have:
• More flights
• More staff
• More routing options
• More backup aircraft

If anything goes wrong, you have far better odds of getting rebooked or rerouted quickly.

Examples of safe hub choices:
• Atlanta (ATL), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), LAX or SFO, New York (JFK/LGA)

2. Book Refundable or Flexible Fares

Shutdown or not, flexibility is your superpower.

Refundable and flex fares allow you to:
• Rebook without penalties
• Change travel days if operations slow down
• Quickly adjust when schedules shift

Pro tip:
Many companies assume refundable fares are “too expensive,” but the cost difference is often far less than the price of disruptions—especially for business travelers or groups.

3. Choose Flights Early in the Day (This Is the Game-Changer)

Here’s your third—and extremely important—tip:

Book the earliest flight possible Why? Because air travel is a domino system. Delays stack as the day goes on, especially when staffing is strained.

Morning flights give you:
• Fresher crews
• Fewer residual delays
• More backup flights if you need to rebook
• The highest chance of an on-time departure

During shutdowns, this single choice reduces risk more than almost anything else (other than avoiding connecting flights entirely).

If your travelers must connect, choose:
• longer layovers
• major hubs
• morning-to-afternoon connections

Government shutdowns don’t stop air travel—but they absolutely make it less predictable!

By choosing major hubs, booking refundable fares, and flying early in the day, you give yourself (or your team) the best chance of staying on schedule, even when the system is under strain.

At AllFly, our team monitors airline operations in real time and helps clients make travel decisions that minimize risk and maximize flexibility—especially during unpredictable events like government shutdowns.

Because travel shouldn’t stop when the government does… but your travelers also shouldn’t get stuck.

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