Travelers across the United States faced yet another day of chaos on Sunday as thousands of flights delayed or canceled due to the ongoing government shutdown. 

According to FlightAware, more than 6,000 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. had been delayed by 3 p.m. ET, with over 1,800 cancellations.

Thousands of Travelers Stranded by Ongoing Government Shutdown

The cancellations mark the third consecutive day of government-mandated flight cuts that began on November 7. “It’s only going to get worse,” warned Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in an interview with CNN. “If the shutdown continues, air travel could slow to a trickle as the busy holiday season approaches.”

The Department of Transportation (DOT) initially ordered airlines to reduce flight schedules by 4% at 40 major airports, with additional cuts planned — 6% by November 11, 8% by November 13, and 10% by November 14. 

Flight Reductions Expand as Shutdown Persists

Duffy said reductions could reach as high as 15% to 20% if the shutdown persists.

According to FlightAware data, more than 1,000 flights were canceled Saturday, with over 1,100 more grounded by Sunday afternoon. The DOT’s plan could lead to over 13,000 flights being canceled or significantly delayed nationwide in the next week, based on estimates from Hopper.

At Nashville International Airport (BNA), the morning began quietly, with minimal TSA wait times and sparse lines. But beneath the calm, passengers expressed growing concern over limited flight options and the uncertainty ahead of Thanksgiving travel.

Flights are delayed: Travelers Frustrated

“The best thing travelers can do is be as proactive as possible, switching to a new flight,” advised Scott Keyes, founder of Going. “When a flight gets canceled all of a sudden, hundreds of passengers need new itineraries. There may only be a handful of seats left on the best flights, and it’s a first-come, first-served endeavor.”

Keyes recommended using mobile apps to rebook, noting that “most airlines have made it simple for travelers to rebook themselves, free of charge.” For those stuck on long customer service lines, he added, “Try calling an airline’s international number — wait times are often much shorter.”

Refunds, Waivers, and Insurance: What Travelers Should Know

Under DOT rules, passengers are entitled to a full refund if an airline cancels their flight or causes a “significant delay” — three hours for domestic trips or six for international ones. Even when the government shutdown causes the delay, airlines are still required to issue refunds.

“Travelers can take comfort from the fact that even during the 2020 pandemic, when huge numbers of flights were canceled, federal regulators still required airlines to provide refunds,” Keyes noted.

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Several major airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United, have announced fee waivers to allow passengers to change flights without additional charges.

Insurance coverage, however, remains mixed. “Some comprehensive travel insurance policies may help if your flight is delayed or canceled by the airline, but coverage for government shutdown-related disruptions can vary,” said Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip. She added that “cancel for any reason” coverage offers the best flexibility, reimbursing 50–75% of prepaid, nonrefundable costs if canceled at least 48 hours before departure.

Travel Tech Sees Spike as Travelers Seek Alternatives

With delays mounting, travel platforms are seeing surging use. Hopper reported a 40% increase in air travelers activating its Disruption Assistance tool, which allows instant rebooking or refunds. “Since the start of the shutdown, sales of Disruption Assistance have skyrocketed over 60%,” Hopper said in an email.

Keyes suggested the growing travel turmoil could spur political action. “It’s not inconceivable that many in Washington, D.C., are looking to travel chaos this time as a path toward reopening the government,” he said.

For now, millions of passengers are left in limbo, watching departure boards flicker with delays — and hoping for an end to the shutdown before the holiday rush begins.