Shutdown: Local flight impacts intensify despite vote

A vote Sunday night to end the nation’s longest government shutdown will have no immediate effect on thousands of cancelled and delayed flights.

Tampa International Airport (TPA) reported that 45 of 554 total flights were cancelled and another 91 were delayed by 10 a.m. Monday. Local passengers encountered over 200 delays Sunday after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented a 4% reduction in air traffic Friday.

Nearly 3,500 U.S. flights were cancelled Sunday as the shutdown concluded its 40th day. Air traffic tracking website FlightAware reported 1,595 cancellations and 1,440 delays by 8 a.m. Monday. 

The Senate took a first step toward ending the shutdown Sunday, but final passage of a stopgap funding bill is likely several days away. Experts have also noted that it will take time for flight operations to return to normal after the government reopens.

The FAA’s mandatory 4% flight reduction to manage staffing at the nation’s 40 largest airports will increase to 6% Tuesday and 10% by the weekend. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News Sunday that cuts of up to 20% “might be needed,” as “more controllers aren’t coming to work day by day.” 

“It’s only going to get worse,” Duffy subsequently told CNN. “I look to the two weeks before Thanksgiving – you’re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle.”

TPA has not responded to multiple requests for comment. The airport’s website states that it is “closely monitoring developments about air traffic restrictions” and asks passengers to “please check with your airline for the latest flight information.”

A previous statement from the nation’s 27th-largest airport noted that “airlines set flight schedules and will implement changes in coordination with the FAA. TPA does not manage flight schedules, so any changes to routes are determined and communicated by individual carriers.”

Five moderate Democrats joined their Republican counterparts in the Senate in a 60-40 vote Sunday night to move toward passing compromise legislation that would fund the government, but without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies. Senators agreed to vote on extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire Jan. 1 at a later date. 

The agreement would also reverse the mass firings of federal workers since the shutdown began Oct. 1, and ensure those terminated receive back pay. The legislation also includes bipartisan bills to fund food assistance and veterans programs. 

However, some Democrats have pledged to continue the fight, and reversing mass flight cancellations will take time. Many affected local passengers have turned to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE). 

Michele Routh, public relations director for PIE, told the Catalyst that it’s a “good time to be a small airport.” While the facility has yet to experience any shutdown-related flight, air traffic controller or Transportation Security Administration (TSA) impacts, she stressed that operations could “change any day, without mandated flight cuts.” 

While “things have been operating smoothly” at PIE, Routh reiterated that it could “change on a dime.” 

“There are so many layers to it,” she added. 

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is on pace to serve a record number of passengers in 2025. Photo provided.

The airport was experiencing an influx of passengers before the shutdown. PIE is on pace to shatter its previous record of 2.49 million passengers, set in 2023. 

“We’re up 12% year-to-date, already,” Routh said. “Every single month since February has been an individual record-breaker.”

She credited Feeding Tampa Bay for supporting local federal workers and food assistance recipients throughout the shutdown. Routh encourages those who can help to donate to the nonprofit. 

She is also grateful that FAA and TSA agents are “continuing to come in and do their jobs.” Routh said they are “very appreciative” of the community support.

“They’re really friendly, helpful people, and I hope people are treating them even better right now,” she continued.