Houston travelers could be in for a rough holiday season as the federal shutdown stretches into November, adding more strain to an already fragile air travel system.
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport, long lines and shuttered security checkpoints have already tested travelers’ patience, as Chron witnessed earlier this week. Experts like Ryan Jones, founder and CEO of flight-tracking platform Flighty, say the ripple effects could hit even harder once Thanksgiving travel ramps up in a matter of weeks.
“Flying is already stressful enough, and the shutdown only makes it worse,” Jones told Chron via email. “Our airport staffers, from TSA, ATC, and FAA, are critical to make operations run smoothly, and we’re being impacted in Texas and across the country as tens of thousands of workers are still unpaid.”
Jones adds that travelers should brace for longer delays and lines this Thanksgiving should the shutdown continue to drag on.
“Last year nearly 24,000 flights were delayed during the week of Thanksgiving, and holiday cancellations were up 27% year-over-year,” he said. “Add a shutdown on top of that, and travelers should plan to arrive extra early.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that should the shutdown continue, the U.S. might be forced to close parts of its airspace, according to an NBC report.
“You will see mass flight delays,” he said. “You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it, because we don’t have the air traffic controllers.”
Even if Congress reaches a funding deal soon, though, Jones noted some of those rippling effects will remain.
“Delays are inevitable in travel-from weather, ground stops, or inbound plane issues-but the shutdown certainly can make it worse,” he said.
And as Chron has reported for the last couple of weeks, travelers are already seeing the impact on the ground. The TSA has stopped issuing real-time security-line updates because of the shutdown. For that reason, Jones recommends relying on online communities for situational awareness.
“We suggest real-time platforms like X or Reddit to check your specific airport,” he said. “Flighty taps into the same data as your pilot and can issue alerts in real time-often hours before airlines update passengers.”
And while flyers prepare for turbulence in the skies, bus companies like Flix North America, which owns FlixBus and Greyhound, are reminding customers of alternatives on the ground.
“We know it’s a stressful time for air travelers,” Kai Boysan, CEO of Flix North America, said in a statement. “With the ongoing flight delays and disruptions out of Houston, people should know they don’t always have to fly. For short and mid-range destinations including Dallas, Austin, or Baton Rouge, taking the bus can actually save time once you factor in the drive to the airport, security lines, and waiting at the gate.”
Boyson added that intercity buses often depart from city centers, run on reliable schedules and let passengers travel with luggage at no extra cost.
“It’s a simple reminder,” he said, “that you don’t have to wait for your plane to take off when the bus can already be on the road. We’re ready to welcome passengers who are adjusting their plans and looking for a reliable, affordable option when air travel is disrupted.”
As for those travelers who want to stick with their flights, Jones added this nugget of advice:
“Go early: Add in more buffer time just to get through security,” he concluded. “Be kind, be patient: No one asked for this shutdown-especially not airport-staffers-but we’re all affected.”
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This article originally published at Government shutdown threatens to snarl holiday travel for Houston flyers.
