The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun scaling back the dramatic flight restrictions imposed during the record-long US government shutdown, marking a crucial step toward stabilizing the country’s strained aviation network.
After weeks of cancellations, delays, and staff shortages, airlines are starting to see the first signs of recovery. As absences among air traffic controllers ease, the FAA announced that required flight cuts at 40 major airports will be reduced from 6 percent to 3 percent.
While this is still short of a full return to normal operations, it represents a meaningful shift after a turbulent period that saw nearly 3,000 cancellations in a single day.
Initial Rollback Signals Improvement
The reduced cancellation requirement reflects a modest but important improvement in staffing levels following the shutdown’s end. Air traffic controllers, who had been working unpaid for 43 days, began returning to duty as confidence grew that Congress would reach a resolution.
The FAA noted that safety remains the top priority and that operations will only fully normalize when key performance indicators show consistent improvement. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted that the shutdown created elevated risks, including reports of aircraft coming too close in the air and increased runway incursions, underscoring why the agency initially mandated steep cuts.
During the shutdown, airlines struggled to maintain stable schedules as reductions began at 4 percent before escalating to 6 percent. The FAA at one point considered pushing the requirement to 10 percent. Ultimately, more than 11,800 flights were canceled between November 7 and the shutdown’s resolution.
Severe weather further complicated operations, pushing cancellations on the worst day to nearly 10 percent of the entire US schedule. Even as the aviation system begins to recover, many aircraft remain out of position, a logistical challenge that could take days to sort out.
Airlines Look to Thanksgiving With Cautious Optimism
Despite the lingering disruption, airlines have expressed growing optimism that normal operations could resume sooner than expected. By Friday evening, early indicators showed far fewer cancellations for the weekend.
Several airlines, including United, had already removed preemptive cancellations from their schedules in anticipation of eased FAA restrictions. Industry leaders believe that with staffing levels improving, the system could return to stability ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel rush.
Executives also acknowledged that the shutdown underscored long-standing challenges in the aviation workforce. Controller shortages existed long before this year’s political impasse, but the shutdown accelerated retirements, with an estimated 15 to 20 controllers leaving the profession each day by its end.
Some younger personnel also departed, raising concerns about long-term operational resilience. Still, airline CEOs remain upbeat, insisting that the system will rebound faster than many expect. They emphasize that travelers can look forward to a safer, more predictable experience as the holiday season approaches.
While significant work remains, the FAA’s rollback represents the clearest sign yet that the national aviation system is moving toward recovery. With millions preparing to fly in the coming weeks, the industry is hopeful that the most severe disruptions are now behind them.
