Miami, USA - Nov 3-4, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of plane taking off
2. Various of travelers checking flight information on board
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Theresa Furey, traveler:
"Their flight's already delayed."
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Roger Hull, traveler:
"It said delayed."
5. Various of travelers in waiting room
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Roger Hull, traveler:
"Air traffic control slowed down."
7. Various of travelers waiting in line at security checkpoint
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jack Chong, traveler (starting with shot 7):
"My flight is actually not delayed, but judging from everyone else's flights being delayed, I think my flight is going to get delayed."
9. Traveler in waiting room
10. Board showing flight information
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Theresa Furey, traveler (starting with shot 10):
"I feel bad for people not getting paid. Nobody wants to work for free, but essential jobs are essential. We have to have them, and I wish they would hurry up and fix this."
12. Various of travelers at airport
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Bruno Braun, Brazilian traveler:
"Yes, my flight is late, and they didn't tell me. I have my check-in on my phone, and then when I came to print it, they just changed it. And I have a dinner tonight for another conference, and I'm probably going to be late."
14. Various of airport scenes

The ongoing government shutdown in the United States, already the longest in its history, has hit the aviation sector hard, leaving tens of thousands of airport staff unpaid and leading to mounting flight delays and cancellations.

Nearly 3,000 flights were delayed on Monday alone. Since the government shutdown began 35 days ago, more than 3.2 million passengers have been affected.

"Their flight's already delayed," said Theresa Furey, a traveler at a Miami airport.

"It said delayed," said Roger Hull, another traveler, pointing out that "Air traffic control slowed down."

"My flight is actually not delayed, but judging from everyone else's flights being delayed, I think my flight is going to get delayed," said Jack Chong, another traveler.

The shutdown triggered by a Congressional budget battle centered around healthcare subsidies has left nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers working without pay.

Another 50,000 security officers are also working to screen passengers and baggage without paychecks.

Many controllers are calling in sick or taking second jobs just to survive.

Last Friday saw some of the biggest impacts yet. More than 6,200 flights were delayed and 500 canceled. In the New York area, 80 percent of controllers were absent.

"I feel bad for people not getting paid. Nobody wants to work for free, but essential jobs are essential. We have to have them, and I wish they would hurry up and fix this," Furey said.

The government said safety is the top priority -- even if it means grounding flights.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the government may shut the whole airspace down if they thought it unsafe.

Airlines said most delays now are caused by staffing shortages. The Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees all U.S. air traffic, is struggling to maintain normal operations.

With the holiday travel season approaching, airlines are calling on Congress to end the shutdown, but officials have warned that travelers should expect more delays.

This applies equally to international travelers.

"Yes, my flight is late, and they didn't tell me. I have my check-in on my phone, and then when I came to print it, they just changed it. And I have a dinner tonight for another conference, and I'm probably going to be late," said Bruno Braun, a Brazilian traveler.