Even if the U.S. government shutdown comes to an end, flying will not immediately return to normal.

Airlines and airports have been coping with significant operational disruptions and the effects will persist beyond the shutdown. Experts and industry sources say it may take days, even longer, as airlines work to untangle complex flight schedules, which can’t be done instantly, reports USA Today .

Some experts believe full normalization could take between 24 and 36 hours for most major carriers, reports Marketwatch , but others warn that crew shortages and equipment backlogs may extend delays, especially at major airline hubs.

Meanwhile, as American Thanksgiving nears (Nov. 27), the harder it will be to reshuffle affected passengers, with fewer seats available. And severe winter weat

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