Airports across the United States have been experiencing a surge in Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wait times as the latest partial government shutdown drags on, a situation that is starting to reshape how Americans plan, book and think about travel — just as the busy spring and summer seasons approach.
Yuvraj Datta, chief supply and revenue officer at CheapOair, says the situation is defined by unpredictability. Having recently flown from California to New York with no issue, he notes that a colleague traveling from Atlanta to New York that same week faced two and a half hours of chaos.
"It's very unpredictable," he said. "And we see that impact, especially in the last few days, more and more."
At CheapOair, that uncertainty is showing up in the data. Call center and chatbot volumes have spiked, with travelers asking whether airports are operational and how long delays are running. Datta describes the past several days being "like a yo-yo," with conditions easing slightly by midweek after a turbulent weekend.
Domestic Travel Decline
One of the clearest patterns emerging from booking data is that domestic travel is affected more than international trips. Travelers with flexible plans — particularly those considering shorter domestic trips — are hesitating or postponing decisions. International travelers appear more committed to their itineraries and are less likely to cancel.
“The people who actually have a plan to go [abroad] are still sticking with it,” Datta said. “But the domestic [travelers] … if there's flexibility in their plans, are not planning. And that's where the impact is the greatest."
What Travelers Should Do Right Now
For now, the biggest takeaway for travelers is simple: Build in more time. Frequent flyers, Datta notes, are the most at risk right now, because they tend to arrive with minimal buffers. Non-frequent travelers, who habitually build in extra time, may navigate the current environment more smoothly.
"Just give [yourself] a little bit more time and be there [early] — things will be operating," he said.
He also recommends limiting the number of people dropping travelers off at the airport, as traffic congestion around terminals brings delays that begin at the curb, not just at security checkpoints.
A Ripple Effect on Spring and Summer Travel
Airlines have already decreased capacity on certain international routes in response to geopolitical instability, which has led to higher fares. Now, Datta warns, the security delays are adding friction to a strained system, fueling what he calls a "multi-pronged" set of challenges hitting simultaneously.
The longer-term concern is the effect on travel decisions. Emergency travel and visits to family and friends tend to be resilient in the face of disruption. Non-essential leisure travel is more vulnerable.
"It impacts decision making on non-emergency travel," Datta said, noting that disruptions like this have a ripple effect that "takes time to build back."
He believes travelers have grown more resilient in recent years and are better at accepting a new normal. But he cautions that the combined weight of geopolitical uncertainty, reduced airline capacity, elevated fares and now TSA congestion could push travelers to delay finalizing summer plans, with meaningful consequences for demand across the industry.
CheapOair, he says, is responding with proactive outreach across both digital channels and its call center, prioritizing urgent travel needs and ensuring customers have the information they need before they reach the airport.
