Delta Air Lines counter at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.

The government shutdown could end as soon as this week after the Senate voted to advance a temporary deal, but travelers with flights scheduled in the coming days should still brace for cancellations and delays.

“I would expect really bumpy operations and pretty brutal travel experiences, at least throughout the week,” said Tiffany Funk, co-founder and president of point.me, which specializes in points-based travel. “Even if funding were magically restored today, this is going to take a long time to reset.”

Here’s what hopeful travelers should know.

What to expect this week

Thousands of flights have been disrupted since the Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines to reduce operations at 40 U.S. airports to combat air traffic controller staffing shortages.

Cuts were supposed to begin at 4% starting Nov. 7 and gradually slide up to 10% by Nov. 14, but some airports have already seen well more than that since the cuts began.

“We have aircraft that are out of place, crews that are out of place, pilots that are out of place,” Funk said. “And unlike a storm or a hurricane, this is impacting all kinds of airports.”

The longer that continues, the harder it is to restore, added Robert Mann, a former airline executive and current president of independent airline consultancy R. W. Mann and Co. “Maintenance will also be a factor. The longer the shutdown goes, the more you have equipment that’s not being routed properly for required maintenance. You cannot restore an aircraft to service without airworthiness checks – that’s job number one. Getting it back for revenue purposes is job number two.”

It won't be a quick fix.

When will flights return to normal?

Ahmed Abdelghany, associate dean for research at the David B. O'Maley College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, told USA TODAY by email, "The pace of recovery is likely to vary across airports and carriers, often unfolding on a case-by-case basis over several days following the formal resolution."

And there’s still the problem of air traffic controller shortages.

“FAA has some clear issues with attendance by controllers who, for years now – predating the pandemic – have been mandated to work six days a week in some cases, with mandatory overtime as well,” Mann said.

“Are we assuming that every single air-traffic controller hasn’t picked up a second job and is just going to come back ready to work 60- or 80-hour weeks? Probably not.” Funk echoed.

Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Nov. 9, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, "I used to have about four controllers retire a day before the shutdown. I’m now up to 15 to 20 a day are retiring. So It’s going to be harder for me to come back after the shutdown and have more controllers controlling the air space, so this is going to live on in air travel well beyond the timeframe that this government opens back up.”

The FAA has been hiring and training new controllers, but Mann noted it’s a time-consuming process with a high attrition rate and a lot of stress.

What should travelers do?

In the meantime, Abdelghany recommended travelers keep an eye on their flight’s status via the airline’s mobile app or website, and get to the airport “well in advance” in case there are long waits at security. He said it’s worth considering rebooking options – if flyers can travel at another time – and purchasing travel insurance, which may reimburse some costs if there are hiccups.

“This ongoing instability, particularly within high-traffic hubs, may result in additional disruptions; hence, travelers are advised to maintain flexibility and preparedness when planning their journeys,” he said.

And if you don’t have to travel right away, consider putting it off.

“My recommendation as a very frequent traveler – I’ve been to 100 countries and run a travel company – is stay home this week,” Funk said. “It’s going to be stressful, and most people aren’t prepared for that kind of stress baked into their travel.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Pretty brutal travel experiences' expected as flight cancellations continue

Reporting by Eve Chen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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