Travel companies warn what will happen if the government shutdown doesn't end before Thanksgiving: chaos

"With Thanksgiving, the busiest travel period of the year, imminently approaching, the consequences of a continued shutdown will be immediate, deeply felt by millions of American travelers, and economically devastating to communities in every state,"

"When staffing shortages worsen, airport wait times grow longer and flight delays and cancellations become more frequent, threatening to derail family travel plans across the country,"

"Now is the moment to demonstrate leadership and prevent a Thanksgiving travel crisis."

Travel companies urged Congress to end the government shutdown to avoid widespread travel disruptions and economic losses over Thanksgiving. More than 500 travel companies and groups supported calls to restore funding before the peak travel days. The U.S. travel economy already lost $4 billion because of the shutdown, with potential for billions more in losses if the closure persists through Thanksgiving. Staffing shortages at airports are lengthening wait times and increasing flight delays and cancellations. Air traffic controllers working without pay have contributed to rising disruptions. Immediate action is urged to prevent a severe Thanksgiving travel crisis and protect local economies.

Read at Business Insider