U.S. may be forced to close some airspace next week if government shutdown continues

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Tuesday that if the federal government shutdown continues for another week, he may have to close portions of U.S. airspace to air traffic. He said this could lead to significant travel disruptions and contributed to a decline in airline stocks.

The shutdown has now reached 35 days, driven by a disagreement over government funding. During this time, air traffic controllers and airport security personnel have continued working without pay. Staffing shortages have increased, resulting in more flight delays and longer wait times at security checkpoints.

According to an airline industry group, more than 3.2 million passengers have experienced delays or cancellations since the shutdown began on October 1, as absences among air traffic controllers have risen. Airlines have been contacting lawmakers about the operational effects.

At a press conference, Duffy stated:

“If we reach a week from today, you will see widespread delays and cancellations, and we may need to close parts of the airspace if we determine it cannot be safely managed.”

The comments were the strongest warning yet from the administration regarding the consequences of continued staffing shortages.

Shares of several airlines — Southwest, Delta, United, and American Airlines — fell between 3% and 5% after his remarks.

Duffy did not explain how a closure of airspace might be implemented. Aviation experts note that because air traffic control is an interconnected national system, even closing a limited section of airspace would affect operations throughout the country.

“You can’t close one sector without impacting the rest of the system,” said Sheldon Jacobson, a professor at the University of Illinois.

The last time the U.S. fully closed domestic airspace was September 11, 2001, following the terrorist attacks.

Airlines say business has not yet been significantly harmed, but warn that bookings could fall if the shutdown continues. Over the past month, tens of thousands of flights have been delayed. On Tuesday, more than 2,900 flights were delayed after the FAA issued traffic management measures due to staffing shortages in cities including Phoenix, Houston, Denver, and Detroit.