FAA Says Airlines Can Resume Normal Operations as Flight Restrictions Are Lifted

After 10 days, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted the mandatory restrictions on commercial flying across the country as a result of the government shutdown that has since ended.

The move clears airlines to restore their full schedules, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. Here’s the latest.

FAA Removes Shutdown-Related Flight Restrictions

The federal government reopened on November 12, 2025, after a 43-day shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. The shutdown caused problems in the aviation sector, as air traffic controllers (ATC) were expected to report to work without getting paid for the duration.

As such, there were increased instances of people calling out sick or not showing up, which prompted the FAA to impose a mandatory reduction in flights at dozens of the nation’s airports in the interest of safety. This led to thousands of flights being canceled over the last 10 days, though the situation had improved dramatically over the weekend.

However, as of November 17, 2025, the FAA has lifted the mandatory restrictions, clearing the way for airlines to restore their intended flying schedules. The agency stated that it was able to lift restrictions because it observed air traffic controllers returning to work in large numbers, drastically reducing the instances of “trigger events,” which occur when a given ATC facility doesn’t have enough staff members working to operate as intended.

The FAA also noted that it would investigate reports of airlines not complying with the order. However, it didn’t provide any details regarding which airlines were noncompliant or in what manner.

The news should be very welcome for flyers and airlines alike, especially considering that Thanksgiving — the busiest travel period of the year — is next week. Over 6 million people are expected to fly during the period, representing a 2% increase in traffic compared to last year.

Final Thoughts

After 10 days, the FAA has lifted the restrictions on flights across the country, thanks to the reopening of the federal government. While it will take some time for things to return to “normal,” the news comes not a moment too soon with the Thanksgiving travel period set to begin in just a few days.