Most analysts will argue that airline schedules will not snap back immediately when the government shutdown ends. The FAA has already throttled traffic at a handful of busy airports due to extremely thin controller staffing. While the restoration of funding will restart pay, it will not resolve the pipeline, training, or recertification challenges that have continued to build over the years.

Passengers can expect a staggered recovery over days of day-to-day delays, alongside lingering constraints in chokepoints like New York, where the Federal Aviation Administration has extended slot and schedule relief well into 2026 due to chronic air traffic controller shortages. Airlines will be gradually rebuilding their networks while keeping buffers in place until control towers across the cou

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