TEXAS — Many Texas travelers are feeling the stress as steep wait times and delays hit airports across the Lone Star State. This weekend, TSA lines surpassing three hours stretched out and around terminals while Texas airports struggled to adapt to staffing shortages caused by the government shutdown.
According to FlightAware’s national Misery Map, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) are being hit the worst, with the Dallas airport experiencing the fourth-most delays in the nation and the Houston airport experiencing the ninth-most.
TSA agents and nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers are going on a month without pay as the government shutdown extends into its 34th day. On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration reported that staffing shortages were causing flight delays at many airports nationwide including Houston and Dallas.
As of Monday morning, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport reported 40 delays, while George Bush Intercontinental Airport experienced 18. In a post on X, officials at the Houston airport encouraged travelers to prepare for extended security wait times and arrive early.
The announcement followed significant delays over the weekend which hit both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), also in Houston.
On Sunday afternoon around 4 p.m., the line for security in Terminal A at George Bush Intercontinental led downstairs into baggage claim and took nearly two hours to get through, according to KHOU. Some travelers failed to make their flights and were forced to wait overnight.
Airports in San Antonio and Austin are also feeling the strain of the government shutdown. According to FlightAware, San Antonio International Airport had nine delays on Monday and 43 total delays on Sunday. At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, 20 flights were delayed early Monday morning.
TSA workers and air traffic controllers are considered essential personnel and continue to report for duty, Tonya Hope, a spokesperson for the San Antonio airport, told MySA. However, travelers should prepare for longer lines and wait times during the busy fall travel season.
If the government shutdown continues through Nov. 5, it will mark the longest shutdown in history, outlasting the 34-day shutdown during President Donald Trump’s first term. If the shutdown persists, many Americans will likely face increased travel times over the Thanksgiving holiday season.