The Federal Aviation Administration announced that airlines can resume normal schedules starting Monday.
Published November 17, 2025
Flights within the United States are set to return to normal after the country’s aviation authority announced the lifting of restrictions put in place during the government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement Sunday that airlines can return to their normal schedules starting Monday at 6 a.m. ET (11 p.m. Japan time) after an emergency order to reduce flight numbers was lifted.
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After reports of air traffic controllers showing signs of fatigue and refusing to report to work, the FAA ordered flight reductions at 40 major airports during the closure to ensure safety.
The restrictions caused thousands of flights to be canceled and countless more to be delayed.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed legislation to restore government funding and end the shutdown, ending a six-week standoff between Republicans and Democrats.
FAA Administrator Brian Bedford said the lifting of the order reflects “a steady decline in staffing concerns.”
The staffing trigger, which refers to when the number of air traffic controllers falls below a safe level, fell from 81 on Nov. 8 to six on Friday, eight on Saturday and just one on Sunday, aviation officials said.
Under the restrictions, airlines were ordered to reduce flights by 4% by November 7th and by 6% by November 10th.
Officials on Friday reduced the limit to 3%, citing improved staffing levels after the government shutdown ends.
In a statement Sunday, the FAA also said it was “considering and evaluating enforcement options” following reports in recent days of airlines not complying with emergency orders.
Just 149 flights were canceled on Sunday, well below the 3% reduction required by the FAA, according to aviation tracking website FlightAware.
