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By Anna Commander and Gabe Whisnant
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Friday it will scale back some of the commercial flight restrictions imposed at 40 major U.S. airports during the shutdown.
The agency said mandatory 6 percent flight reductions will be eased to 3 percent.
When asked by Newsweek when the public can expect normal operations to resume, the FAA said: "The 3 percent reduction will remain in place while the FAA monitors system performance throughout the weekend and evaluates whether normal operations can resume.”
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Why It Matters
The FAA's decision to reduce required flight cuts directly affects millions of travelers and the airline industry as the holiday season approaches.
The update follows a record 43-day government shutdown, which exposed ongoing vulnerabilities within the nation’s air traffic control staffing and infrastructure, underscoring the reliance of air travel on federal operations and personnel. Major disruptions led to thousands of cancellations and delays, raising concerns about the long-term resilience of the National Airspace System and the potential for continued passenger inconvenience during periods of federal instability.
What To Know
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said the limits must remain in place until staffing levels at air traffic control facilities improve and safety benchmarks are met.
Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced that the agency would relax flight reductions effective November 15 at 6 a.m.
This decision, prompted by recommendations from the FAA safety and operations team, reflects a measurable improvement in air traffic controller staffing levels and a marked decline in staffing-trigger events across the National Airspace System.
FAA data indicated that staffing-trigger events dropped steeply from 13 on November 12 to only three reported on November 14, reflecting a positive trend in personnel availability. There was a record high of 81 staffing triggers on November 8, according to the FAA.
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What People Are Saying
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on X on Friday: "Yesterday was one of the best days our airspace had in a while with just a few air traffic controllers calling out from work. We’re reviewing the data provided and are working hard to return the airspace back to normal. You can thank the six House Democrats for opening up the government!"
What Happens Next
While the immediate easing of flight restrictions is expected to improve operational flow, experts and airline executives agree that it could take time for regular schedules to resume.
As the Thanksgiving period—traditionally the busiest travel time of the year—approaches, airlines and the traveling public should remain alert for additional updates
Update 11/14/25, 5:57 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from the FAA and additional information.
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