US flights to return to normal after aviation authorities lift shutdown restrictions

• US flights to resume normal schedules after FAA lifts shutdown restrictions.
• Emergency flight reductions had been implemented at 40 major airports due to staffing concerns.
• FAA reports significant improvement in air traffic controller availability.

Flights across the United States are set to return to regular schedules after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the end of restrictions that were imposed during the recent government shutdown.

Airlines will be able to operate normally from 6 AM Eastern Time (11:00 GMT) on Monday, the FAA confirmed in a statement on Sunday.

The FAA had ordered reductions in flights at 40 major airports to address safety concerns amid reports of fatigued air traffic controllers and staff shortages during the six-week shutdown. The restrictions forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights and caused widespread delays.

President Donald Trump signed legislation on Wednesday to resume government funding, ending the standoff between Republicans and Democrats. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the lifting of the emergency order reflected a “steady decline in staffing concerns.”

According to the FAA, instances where staffing fell below safe levels, known as staffing triggers, dropped dramatically from 81 on November 8 to just one on Sunday. Under the restrictions, airlines had been required to reduce flights by 4 percent by November 7 and 6 percent by November 10, with a scale-back to 3 percent on Friday as staffing improved.

Flight tracking data from FlightAware showed only 149 cancellations on Sunday, far below the mandated reduction, and the FAA said it is “reviewing and assessing enforcement options” following reports that some airlines had not fully complied with the emergency order.