Following a meeting with air traffic controllers at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned travelers to expect massive disruptions this weekend if the House doesn't pass the bill to fund the government.

"I'm going to tell you we are not going to get to Thanksgiving. You're going to see this Friday, Saturday and Sunday," Duffy said at a news conference. "The big disruption thus far, massively more disruption as we come into the weekend. If the government doesn't open ... it is going to radically slow down."

However, compared to last weekend, air traffic controller staffing has improved, Duffy said. He added that it's a signal that they believe an end to the shutdown is coming.

When asked about when controllers will get paid, Duffy said it will be within 24 to 48 hours of the government reopening.

"They'll get 70% of their back pay in that time frame. And then after, the remainder will be made up. I think it's about a week," he said.

Despite flight cancellations on Tuesday, planes have arrived or departed on time at a higher rate than average, according to data from the aviation analytics company Cirium. 

Over 89% of flights left within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival or departure time, Cirium reported. That's a sharp increase from Monday, when just 63% of flights were on time.  

So far Tuesday, about 5% of flights had been canceled, the data showed. Nearly 700 flights, or about 3% of trips in the U.S., have been canceled for Wednesday so far, Cirium's data showed. 

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby thanked the company's employees for their "extraordinary performance" amid the FAA's flight cuts. 

Kirby said the notice to cut flights came without much notice but that United staffers "sprang into action" and worked through the weekend to change schedules and inform customers. 

Kirby touted the airline's "customer friendly policies," including creating a dedicated site for cancellations and offering all customers the opportunity to get a refund. He said the airline had seen positive customer loyalty and satisfaction metrics, even amid the cancellations and delays. 

"It's clear that the way that you have come together to take care of our customers has made an impact," Kirby wrote. "Thank you for all you've done during the longest government shutdown in history to take care of our customers and one another. I've never been prouder to be on this team with all of you."

A traveler at Newark Liberty International Airport told CBS New York that there was "mass chaos" as cancellations and delays continued on Tuesday. 

"It was just mass chaos, sitting in chairs for like 13 hours," traveler Anna Marie Hopkins said.

Traveler Cindy Orr said she's seen people "get hostile" and "angry" about changes to their flight plans. Rick Baldwin said he booked the first flight of the day in the hopes that his itinerary wouldn't be affected. 

Read more here.

It's still not clear when flight patterns will return to normal, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in Wisconsin. Flight restrictions would be reduced or removed "when the data says we should," he said. 

Duffy said the cuts came because safety "data was going in the wrong direction." That included an increase in runway incursions, complaints from airline pilots about FAA controllers and planes flying too close together, he said. 

The timeline for a return to normalcy may change depending on when the government reopens and air traffic controller staffing levels normalize, Duffy said. He and other officials will also be watching the safety data.

"For anyone to say that we did too much, they are sorely mistaken," he said. "We'll continue to manage through this crisis."

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he had been closely watching FAA safety data and warned that the upcoming weekend had the potential to be even more chaotic than previous days. The "critical juncture" may be less disruptive because of the deal to reopen the government. 

"If you thought this weekend was bad … truly this Thursday and Friday I think you would have seen mass — double, triple the number of cancellations and delays in the airspace," he said in remarks before flying out of Wisconsin. 

"I'm hopeful that the House will join in and open up the government," Duffy said. "Otherwise what you see in aviation will be far more challenging."

While flying out of Wisconsin on Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said air traffic controllers could receive much of their back pay within 48 hours of the shutdown coming to an end. 

The controllers will receive a lump-sum check for about 70% of what they are owed under the current package to end the shutdown, Duffy said. 

Duffy added that Tuesday marked the second missed paycheck for most air traffic controllers. "Virtually all" of the controllers he spoke to said that they are not financially equipped to go a full month without being paid. 

"They'll get a good lump sum of what they're due, which is helpful," Duffy said. "They don't have to wait another two weeks to be paid."

There have been 117 flight cancellations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as of Tuesday morning. 

Over 200 flights were canceled at the airport — the world's busiest — on Monday. More cancellations could come as Tuesday continues. 

Read more here.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said airline executives were texting him with concerns before a deal to end the shutdown was announced over the weekend. 

"They were quite worried for their businesses," Bessent said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." 

Bessent also said air travel and shipping is a "core tenet" of the U.S. economy.

More than 120 flights were canceled at Chicago O'Hare International Airport Tuesday amid the ongoing flight reductions due to the shutdown and inclement weather.

An additional 22 flights were canceled at Chicago's Midway International Airport. 

Read more here.

Even with the Senate reaching a deal that could soon end the shutdown, the impact on air travel is likely to linger. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said flight cuts will remain in place until the FAA sees air traffic control staffing levels stabilize.

Because the flight disruptions are widespread and ongoing, many planes aren't where they're supposed to be, which could also slow the airlines' return to normal operations even after the FAA lifts the order, said Mike Taylor, who leads research on airports and airlines at J.D. Power.

"If you think about it, there's all these aircraft that didn't fly where they were supposed to on a normal route," Taylor said, noting airlines will need to track down all their planes, figure out where each needs to be, and find pilots and cabin crew for those flights.

Air traffic controllers will miss their second full paycheck on Tuesday. 

"It is tough when your children are asking you questions about, Dad, can we, you know, go on vacation or can we do this or can we do dance or could we do basketball, and you don't have those extra funds. It is terrible," Joe Segretto told CBS News.

More than a month without pay has led to more absences among an already strained workforce, with at least 18 facilities reporting staffing shortfalls Monday evening.

Airlines say that since the shutdown began on Oct. 1, air traffic control staffing issues have disrupted the trips of 5.2 million people.

With the Thanksgiving travel rush less than two weeks away, airlines are ramping up flight cancellations at 40 high-volume airports. The FAA's target for cuts increases to 6% on Tuesday, up from 4%. It's expected to grow to 10% by Friday. 

Sunday and Monday each saw more than 2,000 flights canceled, with Sunday being the worst travel day of the shutdown so far.

Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, ranking member of the Senate's Aviation, Space and Innovation Subcommittee, on Monday criticized President Trump after he threatened to dock the pay of air traffic controllers who took off work amid staffing shortages and the government shutdown.

"It's disgraceful and dangerous to threaten to punish controllers who put the safety of pilots and passengers first by refusing to direct air traffic when their performance would've been degraded by a diagnosed illness," Duckworth said in a statement.

Earlier Monday, Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social that "[a]ll Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn't will be substantially 'docked.'" The president said he would recommend a $10,000 bonus, per person, for those who didn't take "ANY TIME OFF" during the shutdown. 

"For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU," Mr. Trump wrote.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later said he agrees with the president.

"Air traffic controllers NEED to show up for work! To those who have worked throughout the shutdown — thank you for your patriotism and commitment to keeping our skies safe. I will work with Congress to reward your commitment," Duffy said.

Duckworth voted no on the latest measure to end the government shutdown, splitting with eight moderate Senate Democrats who voted in favor of a bill that would extend government funding through January 2026. The agreement with Republicans would also ensure federal workers, including air traffic controllers, receive back pay since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. 

Southwest Airlines said it will cancel about 440 flights from Monday through Wednesday.

The carrier canceled approximately 140 flights Monday. It's already scratched roughly 155 flights for Tuesday and about 145 of Wednesday's flights.

The airline's president and CEO said Southwest supported a deal in the Senate that could end the weekslong government shutdown.

"The government shutdown must end, and so must the disruption caused to our Customers and the federal employees who are being forced to work without pay to keep us safe," Bob Jordan said in a statement. "We strongly urge the Senate and House of Representatives to immediately pass this bipartisan measure."

Over 2,000 flights have been canceled within, into or out of the U.S. for the second consecutive day.

According to FlightAware, 2,954 flights were canceled Sunday. For Monday, over 2,100 flights had been scrubbed by around 4 p.m. EST.

More than 2,000 of Monday's flights within, into or out of the U.S. have been canceled, according to FlightAware.

As of Monday afternoon, over 6,400 flights were delayed.

Flyers were seen making their way through Miami International Airport, where dozens of flights were canceled as of Monday afternoon.

According to FlightAware, 40 Miami flights were canceled Monday, and 216 more were delayed.

Read more here.

More than 1,800 of Monday's flights within, into or out of the U.S. have been canceled, according to FlightAware.

As of Monday afternoon, 5,300 flights were delayed.

From Friday to Monday afternoon, 6.4% of flights have been canceled at major hubs on average, but the impact has not been felt evenly across airports.

More than 10% of flights were canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside the nation's capital, New York's LaGuardia Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Less than 5% of flights were canceled at West Coast hubs Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. Many smaller airports saw more than 5% of flights canceled.

The searchable table below shows what percentage of flights were canceled at over 600 U.S. airports.

American Airlines' chief operating officer, David Seymour, called the airline's cancellations and delays over the weekend unacceptable and said air traffic controllers should be paid.

"This is simply unacceptable, and everyone deserves better," Seymour said in a letter to employees that was obtained by CBS News. "Our air traffic controllers deserve to be paid and our airline needs to be able to operate at a level of predictability and dependability that no major airline was able to provide the flying public this weekend."

According to the letter, American saw "nearly 1,400 cancellations and more than 57,000 delay minutes attributed to air traffic control, impacting nearly 250,000 customers."

By Kathryn Krupnik and Alex Sundby

Officials at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, one of the 10 busiest airports in the U.S. last year, called the mandatory flight cancellations an "unprecedented situation."

"We thank our passengers for their patience and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented situation together," a tweet posted to the airport's account said Monday. "CLT is deeply grateful to our dedicated partners — especially TSA and ATC employees — for their steadfast commitment to helping travelers reach their destinations safely."

More than 1,700 of Monday's flights within, into or out of the U.S. have been canceled, according to FlightAware.

As of early Monday afternoon on the East Coast, over 3,800 flights were delayed.

Writing on Truth Social, President Trump said air traffic controllers must return to work and that those who have continued to report for duty could receive a bonus.

"All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn't will be substantially 'docked,'" he wrote. "For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn't take ANY TIME OFF for the 'Democrat Shutdown Hoax,' I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country. For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU."

Read more here.

More than 250 flights have been canceled at New York City's three major airports.

As of 11 a.m. EST Monday, LaGuardia Airport's arrival and departure boards were showing 120 cancellations, according to FlightAware. John F. Kennedy International Airport showed 81 canceled flights and Newark Liberty International Airport had 91.

There are also dozens of delays at each of the airports, including arrivals and departures.

Read more here.

By Mark Prussin, Allen Devlin and Elijah Westbrook

Nearly 1,000 of Tuesday's flights within, into or out of the U.S. have already been canceled, according to FlightAware.

As of Monday morning, 968 flights were already scrapped for Tuesday.

At Atlanta's Greyhound station, Sandro Martinez was one of many airline passengers who hit the road to get home.

Martinez flew to Atlanta from Newark, New Jersey, and planned on taking another flight to Greenville, South Carolina.

But with his connecting flight uncertain, Martinez decided to play it safe and finish his trip by bus instead.

"I did not want to take the risk," he said.

Read more here.

Over 1,600 flights were canceled within, into or out of the U.S. on Monday morning, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.

More than 2,700 flights were delayed.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said only four air traffic controllers worked Saturday at Atlanta's airport, which is known as the busiest in the world.

Duffy told CNN that 18 of the 22 controllers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport didn't come to work Saturday. Across the country, 81 controllers in total didn't work that day, Duffy told CNN.

Over 5,500 flights were canceled since the FAA's order took effect, according to FlightAware.

According to the flight tracker, 2,953 flights were canceled Sunday. Saturday saw 1,566 cancellations, and 1,025 flights were scrubbed Friday, when the order took effect.