Air travel across the United States is returning to full capacity this Monday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially announced that all FAA flight restrictions tied to the recent government shutdown have been terminated.
According to the agency, the order to resume normal operations takes effect immediately. Full schedules are expected to be restored nationwide starting at 6:00 a.m. Washington time (1100 GMT).
Impact of the 43-Day Shutdown
This return to normalcy follows a record-breaking 43-day government budget stalemate. Consequently, the extended closure caused widespread disruptions throughout the aviation sector.
During this period, air traffic control towers faced severe understaffing. As a result, the industry saw significant operational struggles:
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Flight capacity was slashed by 10 percent at 40 of the busiest U.S. airports.
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Essential personnel were forced to work without immediate compensation.
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Thousands of scheduled flights were canceled due to workforce shortages.
Tensions escalated further regarding staffing issues. President Donald Trump previously threatened to dock the pay of controllers who called in sick, labeling the behavior as unpatriotic. Even after the political standoff ended on Wednesday, service remained reduced by three percent over the weekend due to lingering compliance issues.
Future Goals and FAA Flight Restrictions
The timing of this announcement is critical. The aviation industry is bracing for a massive surge in passenger numbers ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday on November 27.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed relief regarding the operational restart. He emphasized that the focus must now shift toward long-term improvements.
“Now we can refocus our efforts on surging controller hiring and building the brand new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system,” Duffy stated.
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