Are airports affected by the government shutdown? What to know about CLT, RDU

Officials at North Carolina’s two largest airports say there won’t be any disruptions to flights during the government shutdown.

The city of Charlotte expects “minimal” impacts in the short-term, including no immediate impact to Charlotte Douglas International Airport operations, a spokesperson for the city told The Charlotte Observer.

A spokesperson for Raleigh-Durham International Airport told the Observer it had not experienced any impacts to operations due to the shutdown, but did not comment on whether the shutdown could lead to delays in the future.

Are airports affected by government shutdowns?

During government shutdowns, both air traffic control and Transportation Security Administration employees remain on the job but do not receive pay, The News & Observer reported.

In past shutdowns, including the most recent prolonged one, staffing shortages emerged when TSA workers began calling out, The N&O reported, which led to long security lines and delays at airports nationwide.

How to check flight status

To check the status of your CLT flight, visit cltairport.com/flights. You can visit rdu.com/airline-information/flight-status to check the status of your RDU flight.

You can also check the status of your flight directly with your airline:

• American Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• United Airlines
• Frontier Airlines

Cheap airport parking

The Observer and The N&O previously reported where to find the most affordable airport parking around CLT and RDU. Here’s where to look in Charlotte and Raleigh.

A recent idea for improving transit to RDU has emerged from a study coordinated by the N.C. Department of Transportation, The N&O previously reported. It entails building a bus rapid transit station over Interstate 40 where people could catch a shuttle bus to the terminals, just as they do from remote parking lots now. The study looks at how existing streets and highways in the Triangle could be expanded or altered to provide dedicated lanes for buses, one of the basic features of bus rapid transit.

News & Observer reporters Danielle Battaglia and Richard Stradling contributed to this story.

This story was originally published October 1, 2025 at 3:47 PM with the headline "Are airports affected by the government shutdown? What to know about CLT, RDU."

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.