WASHINGTON U.S. regulators said on Wednesday they will extend temporary cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports and Washington National Airport through Oct. 28 citing air traffic controller staffing issues.

The Federal Aviation Administration in March agreed to the request of Delta Air Lines and United Airlines to temporarily return up to 10% of slots and flights at New York-area airports and Washington National Airport through Sept. 15. Major airlines Monday sought an extension of the waiver, saying air traffic staffing levels in a key New York air traffic sector have not "meaningfully improved."

(Reporting by David Shepardson)