Southwest optimistic FAA will allow full schedule within days after shutdown ends

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Southwest Airlines told employees Wednesday it is optimistic the Federal Aviation Administration will soon allow U.S. airlines to resume its full schedule.

The FAA on Friday imposed 4% flight cuts at the 40 busiest U.S. airports, which is set to rise to 8% Thursday and 10% Friday unless the agency revises the order. “Once the shutdown ends, we’re optimistic that the FAA will allow airlines to resume normal operations within a few days,” Southwest Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson told employees in a note seen by Reuters.

(Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Franklin Paul)