FAA lifts emergency order slashing flights at 40 major U.S. airports

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that all restrictions on commercial flights at 40 major airports, which were imposed during the government shutdown, have been lifted. This decision comes after the longest government shutdown in the country’s history, which lasted for 43 days and ended on Nov. 12.

Airlines will be able to resume their regular flight schedules starting Monday at 6 a.m. EST. The restrictions on flights were put in place due to safety concerns as staffing shortages grew at air traffic control facilities during the shutdown. The order had been in effect since Nov. 7 and had a significant impact on thousands of flights across the country, particularly at major hubs in cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.

Initially, the FAA had implemented a 4% reduction in flights, which later increased to 6% before being rolled back to 3% on Friday. This decision was based on the improving staffing levels at air traffic control facilities. Over the weekend, the number of flight cancellations reached their lowest point since the order was issued, with less than 1% of all flights being affected.

The FAA stated that a safety team had conducted detailed reviews of safety trends and staffing levels at air traffic control facilities, leading to the recommendation to rescind the order. Despite reports of non-compliance by some carriers during the emergency order, the FAA is reviewing enforcement options.

During the shutdown, airlines had to cancel thousands of flights due to the FAA restrictions, ongoing controller shortages, and severe weather conditions. As more controllers returned to work and Congress moved closer to ending the shutdown, flight operations began to improve. The FAA had initially aimed for a 10% reduction in flights to ease pressure on the aviation system and manage staffing shortages.

Air traffic controllers, who worked without pay during the shutdown, faced financial hardships as they missed two paychecks. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy cited safety concerns, including reports of planes getting too close in the air, runway incursions, and pilot concerns about controllers’ responses, as reasons for the flight restrictions.

With the FAA lifting the order, airline leaders are optimistic that operations will rebound in time for the upcoming Thanksgiving travel period. The progress made in resolving the shutdown and improving staffing levels at air traffic control facilities has helped alleviate the disruptions in flight schedules.