Flight reductions to stay at 6% as air traffic controllers return

Flight reductions at 40 major U.S. airports will remain at 6% instead of rising to 10% by the end of the week because more air traffic controllers are coming to work, officials said Wednesday.

The announcement was made as Congress took steps to end the longest government shutdown in history . Not long after, President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill to end the closure.

The flight cuts were implemented last week as more air traffic controllers were calling out of work, citing stress and the need to take on second jobs — leaving more control towers and facilities short-staffed. Air traffic controllers missed two paychecks during the impasse.

The Department of Transportation said the flight reduction decision was made on recommendations from the Federal Aviation Adm