FAA lifts order slashing flights, allowing regular schedules

The Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday it is lifting all restrictions on commercial flights that were imposed at 40 major airports during the nation's longest government shutdown.

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Airlines can resume scheduled flights starting Monday at 6 a.m. EST, the agency said.

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Citing safety concerns as personnel shortages mounted at air traffic control facilities during the air traffic shutdown, the FAA issued an unprecedented order to restrict traffic in the skies. It was in effect since November 7, affecting thousands of flights across the country.

Affected airports included major hubs in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

The flight cut started at 4% and then rose to 6% before the FAA on Friday lifted the restrictions back to 3%, citing continued improvements in air traffic controller staffing after the end of a record 43-day shutdown.

The cancellations culminated Nov. 9, when airlines cut more than 2,900 flights due to the FAA order, an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers and severe weather in parts of the country. But conditions began to improve during the week as more supervisors returned to work amid news that Congress was close to an agreement to end the shutdown. That progress also prompted the FAA to pause plans for further rate increases.

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The agency initially aimed to reduce the number of flights by 10%. Transport Minister Sean Duffy said alarming safety data showed the move was needed to ease pressure on the aviation system and help cope with growing staff shortages at control towers as the grounding entered its second month and flight disruptions began to pile up.

Air traffic controllers were among the federal employees forced to continue working without pay throughout the shutdown. During the impasse, they missed two paychecks.

Duffy did not share specific safety data that prompted the cuts, but he cited reports that planes were stopping too close in the air, an increase in runway incursions and pilots' concerns about how controllers would respond.

Airline executives expressed optimism that operations would recover in time for the Thanksgiving travel period after the FAA rescinded its order.