FAA Rescinds Emergency Flight Restrictions Following Stabilization of Air Traffic Staffing
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially lifted all flight restrictions on Monday morning at 6 a.m. ET. This marks the end of weeks of unprecedented travel disruptions caused by air traffic controller staffing shortages during the recent government shutdown. The emergency order, in effect since November 7, mandated airlines to reduce flights by up to 10% at 40 major airports nationwide. It also prohibited most general aviation operations at 12 of the busiest airports.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that aviation officials can now “refocus” efforts on hiring more air traffic controllers and building “the brand new, state of the art air traffic control system the American people deserve.” The restrictions were gradually rolled back as staffing levels improved. This saw a drop from the planned 10% reduction to 6%, then 3%, before being completely eliminated. Controller call-outs declined from a record high of 81 on November 8 to just one by November 16.
General aviation operators, who had faced significant restrictions at major airports, welcomed the news as the busy Thanksgiving travel period approaches. The National Business Aviation Association praised the decision while noting the industry’s commitment to safety throughout the challenging period.
Source: NBC News