URGENT UPDATE: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that all flight restrictions imposed due to the recent government shutdown will be lifted at 6 AM ET on Monday. This decisive action concludes an emergency order that caused thousands of flight cancellations and major travel disruptions nationwide.
In a joint announcement, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that the emergency flight reduction order—which affected operations at 40 major airports—will officially end as safety conditions have significantly improved. The FAA’s safety team recommended this termination after a thorough review of safety trends and a consistent decline in air traffic controller staffing issues.
The emergency order initially mandated a 4% reduction of all flights due to staffing shortages, which escalated to 6% before the FAA began to ease restrictions last week. Following the resolution of the 43-day shutdown, staffing levels have shown remarkable recovery. Only one staffing trigger was recorded on Sunday, a stark contrast to the 81 triggers logged the previous weekend.
Duffy emphasized the importance of this development in a post on X, stating, “The FAA has determined that normal flight operations can resume after multiple days of positive staffing with air traffic controllers in our towers.” He also highlighted the need to focus on enhancing the air traffic control system in the U.S. to meet the nation’s demands.
This announcement not only restores normalcy to air travel but also lifts restrictions on general aviation operations at 12 airports and eases regulations on commercial space launches and visual flight approaches at various facilities.
As travelers prepare for the return of full operations, the lifting of these restrictions comes as a relief for many who have faced uncertainty and disruption in their travel plans.
What’s Next: With operations returning to normal, travelers are encouraged to check with airlines for updated flight schedules and potential changes. The FAA will continue monitoring staffing levels to ensure safety standards are maintained as air traffic resumes.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
