FAA FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS END
December 3, 2025
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On November 16, 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration ended temporary flight restrictions which had been in place at certain U.S. airports due to inadequate air traffic control staffing levels during the federal government shutdown. Citing increased staffing at air traffic control facilities nationwide since the government reopened, FAA Administrator Bedford announced a return to normal operations at forty “high impact” airports and ordered all air traffic controllers back to work. While the flight restrictions are lifted at major U.S. airports, carriers should anticipate a slower return to “normal” as staffing at air traffic control towers gradually increases. FAA leaders also plan to take enforcement action against those carriers which failed to comply with shutdown-related flight restrictions. Letters of investigation will be sent to purportedly noncompliant carriers in the coming weeks to formally notify them. Carriers that failed to comply with the shutdown-related flight restrictions could face penalties of up to $75,000 for every flight operated above the mandated limits.
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