Federal Aviation Administration

US Flights Resume As FAA Lifts Shutdown Restrictions

November 17, 2025 9:55 am

Air travel in the United States is set to regain its rhythm on Monday morning after the Federal Aviation Administration announced it would lift emergency restrictions imposed during the prolonged government shutdown. The agency said airlines can return to full schedules beginning at 6 a.m. Eastern Time, marking a significant step toward stabilizing an industry strained by weeks of delays and cancellations.

The temporary limits, introduced earlier this month, were a direct response to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. Reports of exhaustion, skipped shifts, and mounting safety concerns pushed the FAA to reduce flight operations at 40 major airports …

Shutdown Fears Force US Airlines To Cancel 3,300+ Flights

November 10, 2025 6:53 am

Airlines across the United States have cancelled more than 3,300 flights as concerns mount that air travel could “slow to a trickle” due to the ongoing government shutdown.

The mass cancellations on Sunday followed a 40-day funding impasse in Congress, which left federal agencies operating without new appropriations. As negotiations stretched on, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last week ordered a phased reduction in air traffic after reports surfaced that controllers were suffering fatigue and failing to report for duty.

More than 13,000 air traffic controllers, deemed “essential” workers, have continued to work without pay since the shutdown began on …

More Than 8,000 U.S. Flights Delayed As Shutdown Strains FAA

October 27, 2025 2:02 pm

The U.S. airline system entered a sharper bend in the road on Sunday, as more than 8,000 flights were delayed across the country amid staffing shortages in air traffic control and the 26-day federal government shutdown.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), control-tower staffing issues were noted at 22 separate locations on Saturday. The flight-tracking service FlightAware reported over 8,000 U.S. flights delayed by 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday — a sharp rise from the roughly 5,300 delays on Saturday.

Major carriers felt the impact. At Southwest Airlines, about 45% of its Sunday schedule—approximately 2,000 flights—were delayed. American …