Flight restrictions are lifted, and normal flight operations resumed Monday morning, just in time for Thanksgiving travel. Here’s what travelers need to know:
If you’ve been nervously watching flight schedules for upcoming travel in the United States, you can breathe easier. The Federal Aviation Administration lifted all emergency flight restrictions early Monday at 6 a.m. EST, ending more than a week of chaos that saw thousands of flight cancellations and delays across 40 major U.S. airports.
The FAA flight restrictions, which began November 7 with a 4% reduction in flights and eventually grew to 6%, were imposed to address severe air traffic controller shortages during what became the longest government shutdown in U.S. history: 43 days.
READ: Planning US Travel? Here’s What the Historic Flight Reductions Mean for You
What Happened During the Government Shutdown Flight Delays?
The unprecedented US airport flight cuts affected all major U.S. airport hubs, including key international gateways like New York’s JFK and Newark, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles International, and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson.
At its worst, on November 9, airlines were forced to cancel more than 2,900 flights in a single day due to the FAA emergency order, ongoing controller shortages, and severe weather. Overall, more than 5,500 flights were canceled and 23,000 flights were delayed during the restriction period. orse.
The Turnaround: Flight Restrictions Lifted November 2025
The situation began improving after Congress ended the government shutdown on November 12. As controllers returned to work and received their back pay, staffing levels stabilized rapidly. The FAA gradually rolled back the restrictions, dropping from 6% flight reductions to 3% on Friday, then lifting them entirely on Monday.
“I want to thank the FAA’s dedicated safety team for keeping our skies secure during the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history and the country’s patience for putting safety first,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement Sunday, as reported by ABC News. “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.”
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford added in the joint statement: “Today’s decision to rescind the order reflects the steady decline in staffing concerns across the NAS [National Airspace System] and allows us to return to normal operations.”
The announcement was made in a joint statement by the Transportation Department and the FAA on Sunday, November 16, confirming that the flight reduction emergency order would be terminated on Monday, November 17, at 6 a.m. EST.
What This Means for Transatlantic Travel to the U.S.
The timing of the restrictions’ end is particularly significant: it comes just days before Thanksgiving 2025, one of the busiest travel periods in the United States. For Scandinavian travelers visiting American friends and family, or Scandi-Americans heading home for the holiday, this is welcome news.
Airlines can now resume their full flight schedules, meaning more availability for those booking last-minute trips or dealing with previous US flight cancellations.
Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium showed that less than 1% of all flights were canceled this past weekend, with FlightAware reporting 149 flights cut on Sunday and 315 canceled on Saturday, a dramatic improvement from the peak of the crisis.
Looking Ahead: Thanksgiving Travel 2025
Airline leaders have expressed optimism that operations would rebound in time for the Thanksgiving travel period after the FAA lifted flight restrictions. The return to normal operations couldn’t have come at a better time for the busy holiday travel season.
For international travelers, the message is clear: U.S. flight operations are back to normal, but the episode serves as a reminder to:
- Book flexible tickets when possible: Travel insurance that covers cancellations proved invaluable during the disruptions
- Allow extra connection time: Even with normal operations, U.S. airports can be chaotic during peak travel periods
- Monitor flight status closely: Download airline apps and enable notifications
- Consider direct flights: Prioritize flights that have connections within Scandinavia, such as SAS in Copenhagen or Iceland Air in Reykjavik, instead of planning on connections at major U.S. hubs to eliminate the risk of missing flights or being stranded.
The Bottom Line: Normal Flight Operations Resume
Normal flight operations have resumed at all U.S. airports as of Monday, November 17, 2025 at 6 a.m. EST. If you’re planning Thanksgiving travel or holiday trips between Sweden and the United States, you can book with confidence that the immediate crisis has passed.
Planning travel between Sweden and the U.S.? Check flight status and travel advisories before heading to the airport, especially during peak holiday periods.
