Air travel nationwide grinds slower as the US government shutdown worsens air traffic control shortages, forcing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to slash arrival rates and spark waves of delays and cancellations.

Major hubs like Newark Liberty International (EWR) and Denver International (DEN) logged average delays over 30 minutes on Sunday, while Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) lost tower controllers for nearly five hours, shifting operations to remote Southern California control. The FAA confirmed multiple facilities hit hard, with sick calls spiking seasonally atop unpaid shifts for 20,000 controllers.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy flagged safety first. “If there are issues in the tower that affect controllers’ ability to manage airspace safely, we’ll slow arrival rates,” he told NPR. “That means more delays, and possibly cancellations.”

Unions demand an end now, warning of burnout. “Having fewer controllers working without pay creates a volatile situation,” said one industry analyst. “Even if no immediate safety incidents occur, the cumulative stress and fatigue will have long-term consequences.”

Ground delays ripple out, shredding connections and cramming rebooking queues. Some towers may “go dark” temporarily, handled remotely – a fix that keeps planes moving but risks hiccups in bad weather or comms glitches. Passengers should brace for extra hours, check apps obsessively, and claim perks like meals or vouchers under carrier rules.

Rural routes face cuts too, as the shutdown starves the Essential Air Service (EAS) program that props up flights to remote spots. Without funds, small-town links could snap, stranding communities.

Experts slam the mess as unsustainable, hitting oversight, safety, and ops alike. The aviation sector begs Congress to act fast, eyeing pre-shutdown norms where delays averaged far lower. Until funding flows, flyers face foggy skies.