The U.S. Transportation Department has lifted its emergency order requiring airlines to cut flights nationwide, saying air traffic controller attendance has recovered enough to address safety concerns.
The order had been imposed on November 7, amid a surge in absences during the government shutdown that began in October. Air traffic controllers, classified as essential workers, were required to continue working without pay, leading to widespread delays and grounded flights across major airports.
With the 43-day shutdown now over, staffing levels have steadily improved, the department said — just in time for the busy Thanksgiving travel period. More than six million Americans are expected to fly for the holiday, up about 2% from last year, according to travel group AAA.
Controllers have returned to their posts and normal operations can resume,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Monday. “Now we can refocus our efforts on boosting controller recruitment and building a state-of-the-art air traffic control system the American people deserve. The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, had severely strained the aviation system.
Some controllers took second jobs to offset unpaid wages, while others reported fatigue and stress. Airports were forced to rely on remote control towers and cut flight schedules due to staffing shortages.
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