The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Sunday the lifting of all restrictions on commercial flights that had been in place across 40 major airports during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
With this development, airlines are set to resume their regular flight schedules starting at 6 a.m. EST on Monday.
The announcement came from Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, who acknowledged the safety issues that arose from staffing shortages in air traffic control facilities during the shutdown.
Beginning November 7, the FAA had issued these unprecedented restrictions in response to deteriorating staffing conditions, which affected thousands of flights nationwide.
Key airports impacted by the restrictions included major hubs in cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Initially, airlines faced a traffic cut of 4%, later increasing to 6%, before it was rolled back to 3% last Friday as air traffic controller staffing began to stabilize following the end of the shutdown.
The FAA noted that their safety team recommended rescinding the restrictions after thoroughly reviewing safety trends, highlighting a consistent decline in staffing-triggered incidents at air traffic facilities.
Although this announcement represents a significant improvement, the FAA is indeed monitoring carriers closely for compliance, citing reports of non-compliance during the emergency order and considering enforcement actions as necessary.
During the peak of the restrictions, cancellations surged on November 9, with airlines cutting more than 2,900 flights due to the FAA order and continuing controller shortages, compounded by severe weather.
The FAA's initial aim had been to enforce a 10% reduction in flights, spurred by concerns over safety data showing pressures on the aviation system amidst the staffing crisis.
With the restrictions lifted, airlines express optimism for a rapid rebound in operations, particularly leading up to the Thanksgiving travel period.
