Flight Reductions Maintained at 6% Amid Government Shutdown Resolution

Thu Nov 13 2025 15:34:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

U.S. airports will keep flight reductions at 6% instead of increasing to 10%, thanks to more air traffic controllers reporting for duty as the government shutdown ends.

Following increased attendance of air traffic controllers, U.S. officials have decided to keep flight reductions at 6% for major airports, avoiding a rise to 10%. This decision comes after President Trump signed a government funding bill aiming to resolve the ongoing shutdown. The FAA emphasizes that safety remains the priority as they assess the situation, while airlines expect to restore normal operations soon. Over 10,100 flights have been canceled due to staffing issues and flight restrictions.

Flight reductions at 40 major U.S. airports will remain at 6% instead of rising to 10% due to increased attendance of air traffic controllers, officials announced Wednesday.

This decision was made as Congress moved to end the longest government shutdown in history. Shortly after, President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill to conclude the shutdown.

Flight cuts had been instituted last week after an increase in air traffic controller absenteeism due to stress and the necessity of taking additional jobs, which had left many control towers short-staffed. Furthermore, air traffic controllers missed two paychecks during this period.

The Department of Transportation confirmed that this decision was based on recommendations from the FAA’s safety team, following a rapid increase in controller callouts.

The 6% limit will stay in place while we evaluate if the air traffic system can safely resume normal operations, said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, although no specific timeline was provided.

If the safety team determines that air traffic controller trends are improving, Duffy mentioned, a plan for returning to regular operations will be proposed.

Meanwhile, Delta Airlines expressed hope for returning to full operational capacity over the next few days. Since the restrictions were imposed, over 10,100 flights have been canceled, according to FlightAware. The FAA had initially planned to increase flight cuts from 4% to 10% across the 40 affected airports.

The FAA had raised concerns that current safety data indicated significant pressure on the aviation system, necessitating reductions to address worsening staffing shortages.

There has been a notable increase in safety incidents, including planes coming too close to each other in the air and issues on runways. Earlier, the FAA listed 40 airports across multiple states impacted by the decision, which includes major hubs like New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Airlines for America, the U.S. airline trade group, expressed gratitude over the funding bill, stating it will allow airlines to restore normal operations before the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

The timeframe for the aviation sector's stabilization remains uncertain, especially after the restrictions created significant disruptions. Many aircraft were rerouted, complicating pre-planned flight schedules. Experts anticipate it may take days to fully restore functionality, compounded by controller shortages and adverse weather conditions.

As the shutdown brought significant challenges, airline and hotel groups previously urged Congress to act quickly to prevent a potential travel crisis during the holiday season.

Geoff Freeman, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, also emphasized the critical need for air traffic controllers and TSA workers to be compensated to avert further crises in the future.