FAA lifts flight limits after shutdown

Federal aviation officials on Sunday lifted flight restrictions at 40 major airports imposed during the record shutdown, allowing airlines to resume normal schedules Monday at 6 a.m. EST. The FAA, citing improved staffing and safety trends, said cancellations fell to under 1% this weekend after a Nov. 9 peak with more than 2,900 flights cut. A safety team urged rescinding the order, while reports of carrier noncompliance are under review. Limits once reached 6% and affected hubs in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta; airlines are optimistic about steadier operations before Thanksgiving.