FAA: Flights two-thirds of normal level

By Paul Courson
CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Commercial airline flights Sunday were running about two-thirds of normal volume on one of the busiest travel times of the typical week, the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday.

About 4,800 flights were in the air Sunday night, compared to an average of up to 5,500 flights.

On Monday morning, another of the busiest times for commercial air traffic, there were about 2,000 jetliners in the skies as of 7 a.m. EST. Spokeswoman Laura Brown told CNN the day's average is around 4,500 to 5,500.

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Brown said general aviation continues to be banned within 25 miles of New York City and Washington, but that some light planes may be seen in the skies above those regions Monday.

"We are allowing some light plane movements," Brown said, "with some provisions to move general aviation out of restricted areas."

Pilots in the two areas closed to light plane and helicopter flights expressed interest in relocating their aircraft to suburban airfields such as those around Baltimore, which are outside the restricted zone.

Brown did not specify when or along what flight paths general aviation pilots would be allowed to travel out of the Washington and New York areas.