Washington: The prolonged U.S. government shutdown, now stretching into its 27th day, has plunged the nation’s air travel system into chaos, with thousands of flights delayed and passengers facing mounting frustration across the country.

According to federal data, nearly 7,000 flights were delayed nationwide on Monday, following more than 8,800 delays on Sunday. The disruptions have been linked to severe staffing shortages among air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, many of whom have been working without pay since the shutdown began.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that air traffic controller absences were responsible for around 44 percent of flight delays on Sunday an alarming surge from the usual rate of about 5 percent. The FAA is currently operating with 13,000 controllers, which is about 3,500 fewer than the agency’s target staffing level.

Major airlines have been hit hard by the crisis. Southwest Airlines saw nearly half of its Sunday flights delayed, while American Airlines reported delays on about 36 percent of its services. United Airlines faced disruptions on roughly 27 percent of flights, and Delta Air Lines saw delays on around one in five.

The strain on the system is being felt most acutely at major airports such as Los Angeles International Airport, where operations were briefly halted over the weekend because of insufficient staffing in the control tower. Similar reports of staffing shortages have emerged from other large airports, forcing pilots to rely on alternate communication procedures when controllers were unavailable.

Aviation analysts warn that travelers are now about ten times more likely to face delays due to staffing issues than in normal conditions. Officials say that the number of internal alerts triggered when staffing levels fall below operational safety standards has risen sharply in recent days, signaling a deepening crisis.

Despite the growing pressure on air travel, thousands of FAA and TSA employees continue to work without pay to keep essential services running. However, fatigue and absenteeism are rising as the financial toll of the shutdown weighs heavily on federal workers.

The disruption has sparked renewed calls for a swift resolution to the budget impasse in Washington. Industry experts caution that if the shutdown continues, airlines may be forced to reduce flight schedules or cancel routes to maintain safety and reliability.

For passengers, the message remains uncertain: expect delays, plan for longer lines, and brace for a travel experience marked by growing strain on the nation’s aviation system as the shutdown drags on with no immediate end in sight.