FAA Lifts Flight Restrictions After Prolonged Shutdown

Mon Nov 17 2025 05:19:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The FAA has announced the lifting of flight restrictions imposed during the government's longest shutdown, allowing airlines to resume normal operations beginning Monday morning.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted all restrictions on commercial flights that were in place at 40 major airports due to staffing shortages during an unprecedented government shutdown. Airlines can start operating on their regular schedules again, alleviating travel disruptions ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. The shutdown had caused thousands of flight cancellations and was marked by growing safety concerns in air traffic control. The lifting of restrictions follows improvements in staffing levels and safety assessments by the FAA.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Sunday that all restrictions on commercial flights at 40 major airports, which were implemented during the recent government shutdown, are being lifted. Starting at 6 a.m. EST on Monday, airlines can resume their regular flight schedules.

The announcement followed a joint statement from Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, citing improvements in staffing levels at air traffic control facilities as the primary reason for the decision.

Initial restrictions began on November 7, escalating from a 4% reduction to a 6% cut in flights, and subsequently rolling back to a 3% reduction as staffing began to improve after the end of the 43-day shutdown on November 12. This unprecedented action was enacted amid safety concerns due to the staffing shortages caused by the shutdown.

Major airports affected included significant hubs in cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. The FAA's order prompted significant cancellations, peaking at over 2,900 flights on November 9, due to a combination of the restrictions, controller shortages, and severe weather.

For the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, the airline industry expressed optimism about a quick recovery with the FAA’s decision to lift the orders. The FAA’s safety team reviewed trends that indicated a steady decline in staffing-trigger events in air traffic control, supporting the lift of restrictions.

Though the FAA has resumed normal operations, it remains aware of non-compliance reports from airlines during the emergency order and is assessing enforcement options.

This development marks a significant positive shift for the aviation sector as it prepares for a surge in holiday travel.