FAA returns to normal operations after shutdown, launches probe

By Brett Rowland
The Center Square

The Federal Aviation Administration’s emergency flight reductions ended Monday after Congress passed legislation funding the federal government last week, but the agency said it would investigate reports that airlines violated the safety order.

Since Nov. 5, millions of U.S. travelers have faced thousands of flight delays and cancellations when the FAA ordered 40 major airports to reduce flight volumes by 10% for safety.

The FAA’s emergency order reduced flights as air traffic controllers missed work during the longest government shutdown in history. The controllers weren’t paid during the 44-day partial shutdown and some found other jobs or didn’t show up to work. Even before the shutdown, the FAA had reported a shortage of controllers.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said normal operations would resume Monday across the National Airspace System, but he said the agency was aware of reports that airlines failed to comply with the emergency order. The agency is reviewing and assessing enforcement options, Duffy said. He also said the agency would work to hire more air traffic controllers.

“Now we can refocus our efforts on surging controller hiring and building the brand new, state-of-the-art air traffic control system the American people deserve,” he said.

Before the shutdown, a shortage of air traffic controllers and an aging system caused delays at major airports nationwide, prompting Congress to approve $12.5 billion for updates, as The Center Square previously reported.

Staffing levels have declined since the end of the government shutdown. The positive trend line continued over the weekend, with six staffing triggers on Friday, eight on Saturday, and one on Sunday. That’s well below the record high of 81 staffing triggers on Nov. 8.

Airlines for America, the trade group for U.S. airlines, said the disruption affected millions of Americans. The group praised air traffic controllers and TSA officers who showed up for work despite not getting paid.

The trade group said airlines would begin ramping up operations quickly, with Thanksgiving holiday travel starting next week. Airlines for America also asked Congress to prevent future disruptions caused by government shutdowns.

“We implore Congress to ensure future funding bills do not allow aviation to become collateral damage in Washington’s policy debates,” the group said in a statement. “The FAA’s Airport and Airway Trust Fund currently has $5 billion that could be used to pay air traffic controllers during future shutdowns. We ask Congress to consider legislation that would implement a long-term solution.”