US Lowering Airline Flight Cuts Down to 3% From 6%

American Airlines Group Inc. flight (Photographer: Kevin Carter/Getty Images North America Via Bloomberg) Show Quick Read Summary is AI Generated. Newsroom Reviewed

The US government lowered the percentage of flights airlines must cut across 40 major airports, easing the burden on carriers recovering from the chaos of the government shutdown as they head into the weekend.

The Transportation Department and Federal Aviation Administration announced Friday that airlines would be required to cut 3% of domestic flights at the airports, rather than the current level of 6%. The new rate kicks in on Saturday, they said.

The government mandated the flight reductions toward the end of the longest federal funding lapse in US history, citing safety concerns and air traffic controller staffing