Air travel operations could take up to a week before returning to normal following the conclusion of the longest government shutdown in American history, Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu announced during a press briefing on Wednesday (November 12) via ABC News.

A total 517 delays were reported within, into, or out of the United States and 608 cancelations within, into, or out of the United States were reported as of 8:15 a.m. on Friday (November 14), according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. Chicago O'Hare International Airport accounted for the most number of cancelations, followed by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, Dallas-Fort International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that flight reductions at 40 major U.S. airports would stay at 6%, rather than increasing to 10% by the end of the week, as more air traffic controllers were set to return to work amid the end of the U.S. government shutdown on Wednesday in a statement obtained by the Associated Press. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the 6% reduction rate would stay in place as officials assessed whether the air traffic system could safely return to normal operations, but didn't give a definitive timeline, in the statement shared on Wednesday.

“If the FAA safety team determines the trend lines are moving in the right direction, we’ll put forward a path to resume normal operations,” Duffy said, claiming that safety remains a top priority and that all decisions would be influenced by data in the statement shared alongside FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.

Hundreds of flights in the United States were canceled when FAA reductions went into effect last Friday (November 7). The cancelations included the four biggest domestic airlines -- American Airlines, United, Delta and Southwest -- at 40 high-traffic airports as officials attempted to relieve pressure amid a lack of employees.

Bedford previously said the decision was made to combat the "fatigue" facing air traffic controllers who have now been working without pay since the government shutdown began on October 1. The initial 4% cancelation rate was part of an increasing scale that rose to 6% on Tuesday and was set to increase to 8% on Wednesday and 10% by November 14.

The spending bill, which funds the government through January 30, 2026, while providing money for SNAP benefits, veteran programs and congressional operations through September 30, 2026, passed the House by a 222-209 vote Wednesday night after being approved by the Senate Monday (November 10) night. Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jacky Rosen, Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman, Angus King and Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) all voted alongside 52 Republicans on Monday.

The government shutdown concluded after 43 days, making it the longest in American history.

Lucy Chapman