The Transportation Department on Wednesday halted plans to deepen flight reductions at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports, citing improved staffing conditions among air traffic controllers as the government shutdown nears its end.
The agency said it will keep the current 6% reduction in place rather than raising it to 8% on Thursday and Friday as previously scheduled.
Officials pointed to a “rapid decline in controller callouts” after widespread disruptions earlier in the week that intensified pressure to end the shutdown.
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