The ongoing federal government shutdown is beginning to affect U.S. air travel, including operations at Denver International Airport (DEN). Travelers should be aware that the FAA is reducing air traffic by up to 10% in 40 major markets due to controller shortages. Denver has already reported staffing issues with air traffic control, TSA and FAA employees which may lead to delays or limited flight operations and could also cause longer security wait times as the shutdown continues.

In addition to DEN, travelers may see disruptions at Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Atlanta (ATL), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), and New York-JFK, among others. To prepare for potential impacts, travelers should:

• Arrive early — at least 3-4 hours before departure.
• Check flight status frequently via airline apps or websites.
• Stay flexible with schedules and connection times.
• Pack essentials (medications, chargers, key documents) in your carry-on in case of delays.
• Monitor updates from your airline and from flydenver.com.

Until the shutdown is resolved, the PSC Travel Team recommends that travelers plan for potential delays and build extra buffer time into multi-leg itineraries. The situation is evolving daily; our team will share updates as new information becomes available.

If you have additional needs, please contact the PSC Travel Team at PSCtravel@cu.edu