Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warns a ‘substantial’ number of Americans won’t be able to travel for Thanksgiving

• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says travel could slow to a trickle over Thanksgiving.
• Thousands have flights are being canceled as air traffic controllers go unpaid during the shutdown.
• The number of Americans unable to make flights home for the holiday will be “substantial,” he said.

If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, it might be wise to have a backup plan.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that the number of Americans who won’t be able to be with their families for the holidays will be “substantial” if the government shutdown continues.

The shutdown is straining US air travel as air traffic controllers, who are paid with federal funds and have largely gone without a paycheck for over a month, are increasingly not showing up for work, forcing the Federal Aviation Administration to ground thousands of flights.

Duffy said the controllers he spoke to said they’re able to miss one paycheck, but two would be difficult.

“Virtually none of them can miss two paychecks,” Duffy said. “So they’re going to be confronted with the idea of, as you mentioned, going to get a side job, a second job to make ends meet,” he said.

Airline pilots and flight attendants have been stepping in to help, sending free meals to air traffic controllers at airports nationwide.

Airlines have already canceled thousands of flights this weekend, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm. About 6.5% of flights scheduled on November 8 were canceled, and close to 72% were delayed. Those numbers are likely to only increase as the political stalemate over the government shutdown persists.

Airlines aren’t required to compensate passengers for delays or cancellations caused by events beyond their control — such as air traffic control issues, which have become more common since the government shutdown began. However, if a flight is canceled, airlines must issue a cash refund, even when the disruption is beyond their control, including cancellations tied to the FAA mandate.

Flight Aware, a website that provides real-time and historical flight tracking data, has a “Misery Map” that’s been tracking delays and cancellations at 17 major US airports since October 30.

If your flight’s disrupted, check your airline’s app for rebooking — it’s usually faster than standing in a long gate line with everyone else.
Some airlines may give out meal or hotel vouchers for long delays or overnight stays. And don’t forget your credit card perks — many include travel insurance that can help cover unexpected costs.