FAA Eases Flight Restrictions Post-Government Shutdown

Sat Nov 15 2025 01:44:24 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In light of the recent government shutdown, the FAA reduces flight cut restrictions from 6% to 3% as air traffic control staffing stabilizes, sparking discussions about safety and efficiency in the aviation sector.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans to decrease flight restriction levels from 6% to 3% at major U.S. airports after the recent government shutdown. Despite the ongoing challenges concerning air traffic control staffing, officials are cautiously optimistic about restoring normal operations ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel period. The previous severe flight cuts were intended to ease pressure stemming from controller shortages and heightened safety concerns during the shutdown, with reports of near-misses and runway incursions emerging. Experts are divided on how quickly the aviation system can return to normal, with some warning of lingering issues.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a plan to roll back some of the flight restrictions that it had imposed at 40 major U.S. airports during the government shutdown. Originally set to cut flights by 6%, the new directive lowers this number to just 3%.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has emphasized the need for these restrictions to persist until air traffic control staffing stabilizes and safety metrics improve. The FAA's unprecedented measures, which were implemented on November 7 during the lengthy shutdown, have significantly impacted thousands of flights and the aviation industry as a whole.

The troubling data indicated that we needed these measures to relieve pressure on our aviation system, especially as the shutdown extended beyond the initial month with controller absences rising, Duffy shared. Many air traffic controllers faced financial pressures during the shutdown, leading them to seek alternative employment.

Flight restrictions initially began at 4% and were set to increase further. However, the FAA opted for a more conservative approach amid reports that more controllers were returning to work as Congress worked on a resolution to end the shutdown.

While airlines are hopeful that operations will rebound in a timely manner, the impact of the flight cuts has left many planes displaced and rerouted, leading to potential residual problems.

Airlines for America, a trade group representing U.S. airlines, warned that the consequences of the shutdown could linger for several days. While experts believe that operations might recover quickly, they caution that the effects of the sudden restrictions could longer than anticipated.

Additionally, the national shortage of air traffic controllers, a longstanding issue, has been exacerbated by the shutdown, with many controllers retiring or leaving the profession.

Despite these challenges, there is a sense of optimism about the upcoming Thanksgiving travel season, as airlines work diligently to restore a sense of normalcy in an unpredictable environment.