The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has officially lifted its emergency flight reduction order , allowing normal air traffic operations to resume across the United States. The order, which had been in place since November 7, was lifted at 6 a.m. ET on Monday (November 17) following recommendations from the FAA's safety team. This decision comes after thorough safety reviews and improvements in air traffic control staffing levels, as reported by the FAA on Sunday.

The flight reductions were initially implemented due to staffing shortages exacerbated by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. During the shutdown, many air traffic controllers worked without pay, and others called in sick, leading to significant disruptions in air travel. The restrictions affected 40 major

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