Navigating Chaos: The Impact of the Government Shutdown on Florida's Air Travel

The government shutdown just hit a record on November 5—longest shutdown ever. Air traffic controllers and TSA screeners, still on the job, haven’t seen a paycheck since October 1. The timing could hardly be worse, with Thanksgiving travel looming and travelers already anxious: Is it safe to fly right now? Are delays and cancellations getting worse? What about those security lines?

Let’s get into the numbers. We checked FlightAware for a snapshot of early-morning delays and cancellations across Florida’s airports and nationwide.

Nationwide, as of 9 a.m. on November 5, there were 504 delays and 57 cancellations. How’s Florida doing?

Delays, cancellations reported at Florida airports.

Here's the breakdown by airport as of early Nov. 5:

DAB, Daytona Beach International Airport

• Delays: 0

• Cancellations: 0

ECP, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport

• Delays: 0

• Cancellations: 0

EYW, Key West International Airport

• Delays: 1

• Cancellations: 0

FLL, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

• Delays: 4

• Cancellations: 0

GNV, Gainesville Regional Airport

• Delays: 0

• Cancellations: 0

JAX, Jacksonville International Airport

• Delays: 0

• Cancellations: 0

MCO, Orlando International Airport

• Delays: 11

• Cancellations: 1

MIA, Miami International Airport

• Delays: 31

• Cancellations: 2

MLB, Melbourne Orlando International Airport

• Delays: 0

• Cancellations: 0

PBI, West Palm Beach International Airport

• Delays: 1

• Cancellations: 0

PIE, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport

• Delays: 1

• Cancellations: 0

PGD, Punta Gorda Airport

• Delays: 0

• Cancellations: 0

PNS, Pensacola International Airport

• Delays: 1

• Cancellations: 0

RSW, Southwest Florida International Airport

• Delays: 3

• Cancellations: 0

SFB, Orlando Sanford International Airport

• Delays: 1

• Cancellations: 0

SRQ, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport

• Delays: 3

• Cancellations: 0

TLH, Tallahassee International Airport

• Delays: 1

• Cancellations: 0

TPA, Tampa International Airport

• Delays: 4

• Cancellations: 0

VPS, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport

• Delays: 0

• Cancellations: 0

The big numbers came from Orlando International (11 delays, one cancellation) and Miami International (31 delays, two cancellations). Most airports, though, had little to no disruption.

Is it safe to fly? Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy insists it is. “Flying is safe,” he posted on X, adding that when staffing drops, the FAA simply reduces flight volume.

Still, both government officials and the air traffic controllers’ union warn that the longer this shutdown drags on, the more pressure and risk builds for these essential workers. TSA recommends travelers should contact their airline in advance to see if their plans have been affected.

Worried about security lines? TSA recommends getting to the airport two to two and a half hours before your domestic flight. Wait times have already been affected in some places, and TSA expects them to get worse until the shutdown ends.

If your flight gets canceled because of the shutdown, here’s what you need to know: Airlines aren’t responsible for delays or cancellations caused by FAA staffing, so don’t expect vouchers or rebookings like you might get for mechanical issues. But if your flight is canceled—no matter the reason—you can always request a full refund if you don’t want to take a different itinerary the airline offers.