FAA lifts nationwide flight restrictions after long shutdown
After weeks of delays and cancellations across U.S. skies, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says operations can return to normal. The FAA announced late Sunday that it’s lifting all restrictions on commercial flights, after previously placing emergency limits at 40 major airports during the record-long 43-day government shutdown.
Air traffic controllers were among the federal workers who worked without pay throughout the impasse, leading to short staffing as controllers called out sick and missed shifts.
The cuts led to thousands of cancellations, including 2,900 in a single day. Conditions only eased as more controllers returned to work and Congress moved to end the shutdown.
Returning to normal
Airlines went back to full schedules starting Monday at 6 a.m. ET.
The FAA and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said air controller staffing has “steadily improved,” enough that their safety team now recommends ending the order.
Airlines say they expect operations to steady quickly, just in time for Thanksgiving travel.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
