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U.S. Air Travel Stabilizes After Shutdown as FAA Lowers Caps and Cancellations Recede

Rebounding controller attendance plus lower FAA limits signal a path to near‑normal operations before Thanksgiving.

Overview

  • President Donald Trump signed H.R. 5371 on Nov. 13, ending the 43‑day shutdown and restoring funding for the FAA and TSA.
  • The FAA said domestic cancellations would be limited to about 3% starting Saturday, down from the temporary 6% cap imposed during the shutdown, with a potential return to normal next week if conditions hold.
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported one of the best recent operating days with few controller absences after weeks of elevated no‑shows when staff worked without pay.
  • Cirium reported a 2% cancellation rate on Friday—540 of 25,294 scheduled flights—with Atlanta, ChicagoO’Hare, Newark, Dallas Fort Worth and Denver seeing the most cancellations.
  • Airlines have logged more than 10,000 cancellations and multimillion‑dollar losses, while travelers turned to workarounds such as one‑way car rentals, which Hertz said rose 20% after early disruptions.