Morning Business Report: Transportation secretary warns flight reductions will remain even after shutdown ends

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said staffing shortages at air traffic control facilities decreased significantly from the weekend through Tuesday.

(LILAMAX) – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said staffing shortages at air traffic control facilities decreased significantly from the weekend through Tuesday as controllers grew optimistic that paychecks could soon resume.

However, Duffy cautioned that the previously announced flight reductions at 40 major airports will still increase to 10% by Friday — even if the government shutdown ends. He said the move is based on safety data, adding that restrictions will remain in place until the team sees sustained improvement.

Airline stocks slipped Tuesday as investors worried about mounting delays and potential long-term travel disruptions.

Meanwhile, two major proxy advisory firms urged shareholders to remove several members of Cracker Barrel’s board, including a DEI marketing executive criticized for the company’s unpopular logo rebrand. The firms implied that Gilbert Dávila played a key role in the rebranding effort, though they did not call for CEO Julie Felss Masino’s removal.

On Wall Street, the Dow closed at a record high as investors grew increasingly confident that the government shutdown could soon end.

Target also announced it will lower prices on 3,000 items, including food, beverages, and essentials, as shoppers stretch their budgets ahead of the holidays. The company says the cuts began earlier this month and will continue through December.

Smart shopping is shaping this year’s holiday season. A new survey by AliExpress and Talker Research found that nearly one in four consumers are setting strict spending limits, and more than a third are splitting at least one gift with friends or family to manage costs while keeping the sentiment strong.