Flight delays to continue as US rejigs air system

Airline passengers, facing new flight reductions, can expect delays at major airports to continue through December and maybe into the spring, says Transportation Secretary Drew Lewis.

He said the Federal Aviation Administration is cutting back commercial flights, which have crept up to 83 percent of normal capacity, as the Reagan administration works to stabilize the air traffic system after 11,000 controllers were fired in August for walking off the job.

Consequently, flights will be cut to 78 percent of the level that existed before the walkout.