The Fox News Rundown Business Rundown: What The Ongoing Airport Travel Woes Mean For The Holidays and Economy
Nov 10, 2025
Mike Boyd, an aviation expert and president of Boyd Group International, sheds light on the current travel chaos due to the government shutdown. He discusses staggering flight cancellations and delays, predicting limited improvements by Thanksgiving. Boyd also highlights how the shutdown disrupts air traffic controller training, worsening staffing shortages. Regional economies suffer as fewer flights lead to layoffs and infrastructure damage. Additionally, he touches on the controversial topic of privatizing air traffic control, weighing its potential benefits against trade-offs.
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Episode notes
Scale Puts Cancellations In Context
- Daily U.S. departures average about 21,000, so reported cancellations are a fraction of total flights.
- Mike Body says many announced disruptions look large but don't reflect chaos at every airport.
Ten Percent Cuts Are Manageable
- A planned 10% reduction in departures is manageable for airlines by adjusting schedules.
- Mike Body notes airlines can cancel selected flights with limited impact on most customers.
Shutdown Hurt The Controller Pipeline
- The shutdown damaged both active staffing and the training pipeline for controllers.
- Mike Body warns pay restoration won't immediately refill controller ranks or stop retirements.