WAUSAU, Wis. — As flight restrictions ratcheted up to 6% Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said airline schedules could return to normal by Thanksgiving, but it depends on air traffic controllers showing up for work.

Many of the 13,000 controllers required to work without pay during the government shutdown have called in sick, causing delays and cancellations throughout the country.

“If we have the controllers showing up, I think we’re going to be back to regular flight schedules,” Duffy told reporters after meeting with air traffic controllers at the Central Wisconsin Airport in Wausau, Wisconsin. “I can’t control the weather. I can’t control if there’s issues on aircraft that’s mechanical, but with regard to controlling the airspace, we’ll be up and running.”

On Friday, the

See Full Page