Updated: US government shutdown prompts fears for half-term holidaymakers

The shutdown of the US government, now into its third week, is causing increasing disruption to flights and delays at immigration, raising concerns about the impact on half-term holidaymakers.

USAirtours chief executive Guy Novik reported “an increase in calls to our on-call duty team overnight and an increase in missed connections” this week due to longer waiting times at immigration.

Novik described the impact to date as “slight”, saying: “There seems little disruption to transatlantic flights.” But more than half of USAirtours customers book single‑centre holidays, meaning the impact is limited to delays at immigration.

Major Travel managing director Qasim Gulamhusein said: “There are some issues in terms of flights, but the shutdown is not on people’s radar.”

However, he noted: “It’s not a busy time for the US, but there is a lot of demand for Orlando in the October half-term. We’ll find out this week and next whether people are disrupted.”

US transportation secretary Sean Duffy threatened to fire air traffic controllers who skip work late last week. He accused those phoning in sick, because they are not being paid, of causing “massive disruption”.

Controller shortages at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Burbank, Denver and New York Newark airports caused delays, with the Los Angeles regional airport reporting no controllers at all from 4.15pm to 10pm on one day. 

The Federal Aviation Administration also reported delays at Phoenix, Houston, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and Nashville airports due to staff shortages.

The threat to sack air traffic controllers risks exacerbating the delays amid a shortfall of almost 3,000 US air traffic controllers before the shutdown began on October 1. This had already led to endemic delays and cancellations.

Republican speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson warned this week: “We’re barrelling toward one of the longest shutdowns in history.” However, the shutdown is already among the longest, with multiple agencies receiving notices of ‘reductions in force’ layoffs.

The Smithsonian Institute’s museums and attractions shut last week, and the US Travel Association estimated the cost of the shutdown to the industry at almost $2 billion at the start of this week.

The administration laid off more than 1,000 employees at the Centers for Disease Control last week, including teams working on infectious disease outbreaks, before abruptly reversing the decision.

Meanwhile, Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organisation for Washington DC, is reaffirming its ‘DC is Open’ campaign to assure travellers the US capital “remains open and ready” to welcome visitors.

Chief executive Elliott Ferguson said: “We understand that when the federal government shuts down, some visitors may assume DC does too, but that’s far from the truth. 

“While some federally funded attractions are impacted, more than 50 privately funded museums are unaffected. 

"Our city’s incredible restaurants, hotels, theatres, sports venues, tours, parks and attractions are open and ready to welcome guests. There’s so much to see and do this fall and visitors can still experience everything that makes DC a world-class destination.”