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HOUSTON — While there’s been key movement in Washington toward ending the government shutdown, air travel remains one of the most visible pressure points — and the next few days could bring even more disruption for travelers.
On the 40th day of the shutdown, eight Democrats and one Independent senator joined Republicans overnight to advance a bill that could reopen the federal government. The measure still needs approval from both the Senate and House before heading to the President’s desk.
RELATED: FAA flight reductions: How United, Southwest, Delta, and American are responding
The government shutdown has already taken a toll on critical federal services, and experts warn the effects could linger even if a deal is finalized this week.
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport, TSA lines stretched across terminals early Monday morning, with Terminal A and Terminal E both packed before sunrise.
By late morning, lines eased, a small relief for travelers like Chad Beaver and Nicholas Zamora, who arrived hours early expecting chaos.
“What time does your flight leave?” one asked the other.
“I think it leaves around 11 or so,” they said. “We got here at 7 a.m. We were anticipating a lot longer lines but we’re kind of pleasantly surprised.”
Even so, uncertainty remains high. The FAA says what started as a 4% reduction in flights this past weekend could rise to 6% Tuesday and up to 10% by Friday if the shutdown continues.
That comes as thousands of TSA agents, air traffic controllers, and other federal employees continue working without pay, leading to staffing shortages at major airports across the country.
Union leaders representing 14,000 air traffic controllers called the situation “unacceptable and unsustainable” during a Monday morning briefing.
Many controllers have now gone without two paychecks, and some are taking side jobs, selling belongings, or even donating plasma to stay afloat, said Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA).
“Last Friday we delivered over 1,600 handwritten letters from our members to congressional offices,” Daniels said. “These are not statistics — these are the lives of people who keep this country moving.”
Despite the financial strain, the FAA reports controllers handled more than 113,000 flights just this weekend. All without pay.
In a statement Monday morning, United Airlines thanked senators for advancing legislation to reopen the government and urged quick action from the House.
“Our customers and employees have experienced firsthand the negative impact of the shutdown and staffing shortages causing flight delays, disruptions, and cancellations,” the company said. “It is critical that the Senate quickly send this legislation to the House and the House pass it as soon as possible, so that government can reopen and reliable air travel can resume as we near the busy holiday travel season.”
Even with new movement in Washington, the ripple effect at airports is already underway. Houston travelers are advised to:
Officials say the next few days will be critical as additional flight reductions are expected Tuesday and again by Friday, just as the holiday travel season ramps up.
As lawmakers continue negotiations, thousands of unpaid federal workers, from TSA officers to air traffic controllers, are keeping the system running under immense strain. Their stories have become the human face of a political stalemate now entering its sixth week.
Until the shutdown ends, Houston travelers should plan ahead, stay patient, and prepare for potential changes to their travel plans.
If your flight is canceled, United Airlines was rebooking customers. You can also request a refund. Here’s what airlines are doing during the shutdown.
The list of all flights canceled by United can be found here. Before you head to the airport, check with United Airlines.
UA6167: 7:20 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Oklahoma City, OK (OKC)
UA4031: 7:25 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Baltimore, MD (BWI)
UA2003: 7:40 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → San Antonio, TX (SAT)
UA6248: 9:35 AM — Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA2385: 9:45 AM — San Antonio, TX (SAT) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4285: 9:50 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Laredo, TX (LRD)
UA4255: 11:55 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Huntsville, AL (HSV)
UA4363: 12:05 PM — Laredo, TX (LRD) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4975: 12:05 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Lafayette, LA (LFT)
UA4927: 12:09 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Corpus Christi, TX (CRP)
UA6152: 12:10 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Kansas City, MO (MCI)
UA4239: 12:13 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Birmingham, AL (BHM)
UA2662: 12:25 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Orlando, FL (MCO)
UA4026: 12:35 PM — Baltimore, MD (BWI) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4827: 2:00 PM — Lafayette, LA (LFT) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4361: 2:15 PM — Corpus Christi, TX (CRP) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA496: 2:25 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Orlando, FL (MCO)
UA4280: 2:25 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Lubbock, TX (LBB)
UA4905: 2:26 PM — Huntsville, AL (HSV) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4236: 2:30 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → McAllen, TX (MFE)
UA4307: 2:35 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Mobile, AL (MOB)
UA6132: 2:40 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Jackson, MS (JAN)
UA6124: 3:00 PM — Kansas City, MO (MCI) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4228: 3:00 PM — Birmingham, AL (BHM) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6301: 4:30 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Memphis, TN (MEM)
UA1964: 4:58 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
UA4290: 5:00 PM — McAllen, TX (MFE) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA2215: 5:10 PM — Orlando, FL (MCO) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4923: 5:10 PM — Mobile, AL (MOB) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4978: 5:10 PM — Lubbock, TX (LBB) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6223: 5:18 PM — Jackson, MS (JAN) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6207: 6:55 PM — Memphis, TN (MEM) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA1818: 7:05 PM — Orlando, FL (MCO) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA2114: 7:30 PM — Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA759: 7:20 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Miami, FL (MIA)
UA6167: 7:20 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Oklahoma City, OK (OKC)
UA6312: 7:30 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Cincinnati, OH (CVG)
UA6148: 9:30 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Tulsa, OK (TUL)
UA6248: 9:35 AM — Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA2166: 9:42 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
UA4285: 9:50 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Laredo, TX (LRD)
UA4261: 9:50 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Gulfport, MS (GPT)
UA4952: 10:30 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Shreveport, LA (SHV)
UA6367: 11:45 AM — Cincinnati, OH (CVG) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6215: 11:51 AM — Tulsa, OK (TUL) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4234: 11:52 AM — Gulfport, MS (GPT) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA1764: 11:55 AM — Miami, FL (MIA) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA1719: 11:55 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
UA4896: 11:55 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Jackson, MS (JAN)
UA1345: 12:05 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
UA4363: 12:05 PM — Laredo, TX (LRD) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA539: 12:05 PM — Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4927: 12:09 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Corpus Christi, TX (CRP)
UA6300: 12:13 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Birmingham, AL (BHM)
UA4957: 12:15 PM — Shreveport, LA (SHV) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA1501: 12:35 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Tampa, FL (TPA)
UA4289: 1:57 PM — Jackson, MS (JAN) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4361: 2:15 PM — Corpus Christi, TX (CRP) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA528: 2:16 PM — Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6146: 2:20 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Corpus Christi, TX (CRP)
UA6169: 2:26 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Bentonville, AR (XNA)
UA4236: 2:30 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → McAllen, TX (MFE)
UA4307: 2:35 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Mobile, AL (MOB)
UA4929: 2:35 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Brownsville, TX (BRO)
UA4344: 2:40 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Harlingen, TX (HRL)
UA6322: 2:40 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Midland, TX (MAF)
UA6132: 2:40 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Jackson, MS (JAN)
UA6229: 3:00 PM — Birmingham, AL (BHM) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4054: 4:10 PM — Corpus Christi, TX (CRP) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4290: 5:00 PM — McAllen, TX (MFE) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4870: 5:00 PM — Harlingen, TX (HRL) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6344: 5:00 PM — Bentonville, AR (XNA) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4923: 5:10 PM — Mobile, AL (MOB) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4365: 5:15 PM — Brownsville, TX (BRO) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA1927: 5:17 PM — Tampa, FL (TPA) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6223: 5:18 PM — Jackson, MS (JAN) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4001: 5:30 PM — Midland, TX (MAF) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA202: 6:14 PM — Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA2260: 7:20 AM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Tampa, FL (TPA)
UA6228: 7:25 AM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
UA6204: 7:35 AM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Austin, TX (AUS)
UA6243: 7:40 AM – Houston, TX (IAH) → San Antonio, TX (SAT)
UA6214: 8:35 AM – Houston, TX (IAH) → St. Louis, MO (STL)
UA6249: 9:45 AM – San Antonio, TX (SAT) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4025: 9:45 AM – Austin, TX (AUS) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4040: 9:58 AM – Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4298: 10:01 AM – Houston, TX (IAH) → McAllen, TX (MFE)
UA6110: 10:05 AM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Baton Rouge, LA (BTR)
UA4952: 10:30 AM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Shreveport, LA (SHV)
UA6213: 11:20 AM – St. Louis, MO (STL) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA2326: 11:45 AM – Tampa, FL (TPA) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6184: 11:55 AM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Omaha, NE (OMA)
UA6202: 12:05 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Charlotte, NC (CLT)
UA4975: 12:05 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Lafayette, LA (LFT)
UA1345: 12:05 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
UA2105: 12:08 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Miami, FL (MIA)
UA4017: 12:10 PM – Baton Rouge, LA (BTR) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4239: 12:13 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Birmingham, AL (BHM)
UA4314: 12:15 PM – McAllen, TX (MFE) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4957: 12:15 PM – Shreveport, LA (SHV) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4354: 12:20 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Lubbock, TX (LBB)
UA4850: 12:55 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Mobile, AL (MOB)
UA4827: 2:00 PM – Lafayette, LA (LFT) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6174: 2:05 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (MSP)
UA4252: 2:20 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Memphis, TN (MEM)
UA4929: 2:35 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Brownsville, TX (BRO)
UA6322: 2:40 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Midland, TX (MAF)
UA4366: 2:40 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Laredo, TX (LRD)
UA6132: 2:40 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Jackson, MS (JAN)
UA6260: 2:52 PM – Omaha, NE (OMA) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4228: 3:00 PM – Birmingham, AL (BHM) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4862: 3:15 PM – Mobile, AL (MOB) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4859: 3:21 PM – Lubbock, TX (LBB) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4331: 4:30 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Tulsa, OK (TUL)
UA4375: 4:30 PM – Houston, TX (IAH) → Lake Charles, LA (LCH)
UA4022: 4:48 PM – Charlotte, NC (CLT) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA1216: 4:50 PM – Miami, FL (MIA) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4287: 5:00 PM – Memphis, TN (MEM) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4365: 5:15 PM – Brownsville, TX (BRO) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6223: 5:18 PM – Jackson, MS (JAN) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4374: 5:22 PM – Laredo, TX (LRD) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4001: 5:30 PM – Midland, TX (MAF) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6276: 5:39 PM – Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (MSP) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4322: 6:04 PM – Lake Charles, LA (LCH) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA202: 6:14 PM – Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4376: 6:50 PM – Tulsa, OK (TUL) → Houston, TX (IAH)
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