The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans to roll back commercial flight restrictions at 40 major US airports, reducing mandatory flight cuts from six percent to three percent. The move follows the record 43-day government shutdown that ended on November 12.
The restrictions, imposed on November 7, had disrupted thousands of flights. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had previously warned that the measures would remain until air traffic control staffing stabilised and safety metrics improved. The FAA's chief cited troubling data and increased controller absences, with many unpaid controllers taking on side jobs due to financial strain.
The flight cuts initially stood at four percent before rising to six percent. The FAA had originally targeted a ten percent reduction but held off as more controllers returned to work amid news of a potential deal to end the shutdown. Controllers missed two paychecks during the impasse.
Duffy has not disclosed the specific safety data behind the cuts but referenced reports of planes flying too close, increased runway incursions, and pilot concerns about controller responses. The aviation system's stabilisation timeline remains unclear, with Airlines for America warning of residual effects for days.
Experts predict lingering disruptions, but airline executives are optimistic that operations will return to normal ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel week. The nationwide controller shortage, exacerbated by the shutdown, saw 15–20 retirements daily by its end, with some younger controllers leaving the profession.
