The airports affected by the government shutdown in October 2025 are primarily impacted by staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, leading to flight delays and reduced operations. Key airports experiencing significant delays or operational challenges include:
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- Orlando International Airport
- Newark Liberty International Airport
- Hollywood Burbank Airport (tower closed for several hours)
- Boston Logan International Airport
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport (significant staffing issues and delays)
- Denver International Airport
- Houston's two major airports: Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport
- Las Vegas McCarran International Airport
- Nashville International Airport (facility closure for directing aircraft)
- Dallas airports
- Philadelphia International Airport
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
- Indianapolis Airport
- Albuquerque Airport
- Jacksonville Airport
These airports face delays due to air traffic controllers working without pay and increased sick calls amid the shutdown. Some airports have reduced flight numbers to manage safety with limited staff. Flight delays have been substantial, with some airports experiencing delays of 40 minutes to over two hours, including incidents where control towers were temporarily closed or remotely managed.