The FAA will end its emergency flight-reduction order affecting 40 airports, allowing normal operations to resume on Monday, November 17 at 6 a.m. The reductions, in place since November 7, had cut capacity by at least 4% at some busy hubs and led to thousands of delays and hundreds of cancellations. Disruptions eased after the government reopened, and FAA officials say staffing triggers have fallen from a peak of 81 to just one reported issue on Sunday. Travelers should check with their airlines for any remaining schedule changes.
FAA Ends Emergency Flight Reductions at 40 Airports; Normal Operations Resume Nov. 17
The FAA will end its emergency flight-reduction order affecting 40 airports, allowing normal operations to resume on Monday, November 17 at 6 a.m. The reductions, in place since November 7, had cut capacity by at least 4% at some busy hubs and led to thousands of delays and hundreds of cancellations. Disruptions eased after the government reopened, and FAA officials say staffing triggers have fallen from a peak of 81 to just one reported issue on Sunday. Travelers should check with their airlines for any remaining schedule changes.
03:26 PM, 11/17/2025Politics
FAA rescinds emergency order that cut flights at 40 airports
Flight reductions ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration at 40 U.S. airports earlier this month will end Monday morning, officials said in a joint statement from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
The limits, which began on November 7, reduced air-traffic capacity by at least 4% at several of the nation’s busiest hubs. The curbs contributed to thousands of delays and hundreds of cancellations across the country on nearly a daily basis.
"The flight reduction emergency order will be terminated on Monday, November 17 at 6 a.m. This means normal operations can resume across the National Airspace System," the agencies said in their Sunday statement.
Major travel disruptions began to ease last week after President Donald Trump signed legislation to reopen the federal government, ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Staffing shortages at air-traffic control centers nationwide also played a significant role in the delays and cancellations; FAA leaders say those staffing issues have largely improved.
"Today’s decision to rescind the order reflects the steady decline in staffing concerns across the NAS and allows us to return to normal operations," Bedford said. "I am grateful for the hard work of the FAA safety and operations teams and for their focus on the safety of the traveling public."
The FAA reported only one staffing trigger on Sunday, a sharp decline from a record high of 81 staffing triggers on November 8, the statement added.
What travelers should know: Normal scheduling and capacity are expected to resume after 6 a.m. on Monday, November 17. Passengers should still check with their airlines for any residual delays or cancellations and allow extra time at airports as operations stabilize.
This story has been updated with additional information.