FAA Lifts 10% Flight Caps: What Changed, What’s Next
When Were Restrictions Lifted?
The FAA’s emergency flight-reduction order at the 40 busiest U.S. airports ended at 6:00 a.m. ET on Monday, November 17, 2025. The agency said safety metrics improved as controller staffing “trigger” events fell sharply following the shutdown’s resolution.
Why Now?
Internal safety reviews showed a steady decline in ATC staffing-trigger incidents—down from a record spike earlier in November to low single digits by the weekend. With staffing “snapping back into place,” the FAA removed caps on commercial flights and also rolled back limits on space launches and general aviation at a dozen airports.
What Public Opinion Said About the Shutdown
Multiple polls during the shutdown found more Americans blamed the GOP and President Trump than Democrats for the impasse, though a meaningful share assigned at least some blame to both parties. The administration’s own post-election messaging acknowledged the political drag of the prolonged closure.
What About Airlines That Didn’t Comply?
The FAA said it is reviewing reports of carrier non-compliance during the emergency order and is assessing enforcement options. That leaves the door open to penalties where violations are confirmed.
Operations Snapshot
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As the order wound down, the FAA eased reductions from 6% to 3% through the weekend, then lifted all caps.
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Day-of-ops performance on November 16 showed very low cancellations and strong on-time departures across the affected airports, consistent with a stable ramp-up.
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Controller staffing continues to normalize, with the FAA emphasizing accelerated hiring and tech upgrades ahead.
What Travelers Should Expect
Airlines are restoring schedules, but lingering schedule tweaks and aircraft/crew repositioning may persist for a few days. If you were rebooked under the cap, check your itinerary again—many carriers are opening earlier or better connections as normal flows return.
Bottom Line
The flight caps are gone as of 6:00 a.m. ET, Nov. 17. Public sentiment largely blamed Republicans for the shutdown’s fallout, and the FAA may still sanction any airline that flouted the temporary rules. For passengers, normal service is resuming—expect a short tail of adjustments as the system fully resets.
