WASHINGTON: US flights will return to normal schedules on Monday after reductions imposed during a government shutdown were lifted, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The FAA said Sunday evening that restrictions would be lifted and “normal operations can resume” across the country from 6:00 a.m. Washington time (1100 GMT) on Monday.
Thousands of flights were canceled due to understaffing during the shutdown, which stretched into a record 43 days.
Ten percent of domestic flights were cut at 40 of the busiest US airports due to a shortage of control tower staff, who were asked to work without pay as the budget stalemate dragged on.
The aviation industry was further strained after President Donald Trump threatened to dock pay for air traffic controllers who called in sick during the shutdown, accusing them of being unpatriotic.
