Flight Cancellations Won’t End When the Government Shutdown Does

It will be days—perhaps longer—before U.S. air travel snaps back to normal from the disruptions driven by the government shutdown.

Airlines need a few days to get crews in place for flight schedules to resume fully. And the timeline further depends on factors beyond the companies’ control, including when the Federal Aviation Administration lifts restrictions on flights and whether air-traffic controllers keep showing up before their back pay arrives.

“It will take time, and there will be residual effects for days,” said Airlines for America, a trade group representing commercial carriers.

Air-traffic controller staffing could remain a challenge. Adding to the difficulty: A dozen or more controllers opted to retire each day during the shutdown, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, potentially stretching already thin staffing.