US lifts restrictions on flights in time for Thanksgiving travel

The U.S. Department of Transportation has lifted its emergency order aimed at reducing flights across the country, saying enough air traffic controllers are now coming to work to alleviate safety concerns.

During the government shutdown that began in October, absences increased for air traffic controllers, who – as essential employees – were forced to work without pay, leading airports to delay or ground flights.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) then ordered airlines, starting November 7, to reduce scheduled takeoffs in order to avoid safety concerns.

Since the shutdown ended last week, staffing levels “have continued to decline,” the department said, just in time for busy Thanksgiving travel.

More than 6 million people in the United States are expected to fly during the Thanksgiving holiday – about 2% more than last year – according to travel major AAA, which notes that the period is the busiest holiday for travel in the United States.

“Controllers have returned to their posts and normal operations can resume,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in announcing that the emergency order had been lifted. “We can now refocus our efforts on increasing the recruitment of controllers and building the all-new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system that the American people deserve.”

Air traffic controller absences are among the most visible consequences of the 43-day shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. Many controllers said they were forced to take on second jobs to make up for missing paychecks, and many of those who came to work said they were left stressed and exhausted.

Airports have struggled to keep flights on time, sometimes relying on control towers miles away to guide planes. The problem was compounded by an already existing shortage of controllers.

The emergency order called for the elimination of up to 10% of U.S. domestic flights, and during the first week of November, thousands of flights were canceled and even more delayed.

According to the announcement ending the order, the FAA is “aware of reports of non-compliance by carriers during the emergency order. The agency is reviewing and evaluating enforcement options.”

He did not specify which airlines would not have canceled their flights or how they might be penalized.

Last Saturday and Sunday, airports issued just nine alerts for flights that were grounded, abandoned or delayed due to staffing shortages — a stark contrast to the previous Saturday, Nov. 8, when such alerts reached a record 81, according to the Transportation Department.

With the closure ending, controllers are expected to receive back pay and will no longer be threatened by Duffy with being fired for absences.