Air travel is finally back to normal after the government shutdown
Key Points
- 1The US government shutdown led to flight restrictions at 40 major US airports due to FAA safety concerns.
- 2Flight cuts peaked at over 2,900 cancellations on November 9.
- 3The FAA has lifted all remaining flight restrictions following the end of the shutdown.
- 4The FAA is reviewing reports of non-compliance by carriers during the emergency order.
- 5Air traffic controllers missed two paychecks during the shutdown.
The end of the US government shutdown has brought air travel back to normal after weeks of restrictions imposed by the FAA. These restrictions, implemented due to safety concerns amid the shutdown, affected 40 major airports, including hubs like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. The flight cuts began at 4% and rose to 6% before being gradually rolled back, impacting thousands of flights and millions of passengers. Cancellations peaked on November 9, with over 2,900 flights cut due to the order and bad weather. Despite the mandated cuts, the actual number of canceled flights remained lower than 1% over the weekend, according to Cirium.
The FAA stated that a safety team recommended rescinding the cancellation order after reviewing safety trends and the decline of staffing-trigger events in air traffic control facilities. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy thanked the FAA's safety team for maintaining secure skies during the shutdown and acknowledged the public's patience. The shutdown left many air traffic controllers without pay, missing two paychecks.
The FAA is now reviewing reports of non-compliance by carriers during the emergency order and assessing enforcement options. The agency's focus remains on ensuring safety and restoring normal operations after the disruption caused by the government shutdown. The return to normal operations is expected to alleviate concerns about potential disruptions during the Thanksgiving holiday period.
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