Hundreds of flights across the United States were cancelled on Friday after airlines were instructed to reduce air traffic amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that domestic flights at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports will be affected as officials move to ease mounting pressure on air traffic controllers, many of whom are working without pay.
The FAA announced that reductions would begin at 4% of internal flights, increasing to 10% by the end of next week a move that could impact as many as 4,000 flights per day.
Control towers have been struggling to operate efficiently, with many air traffic controllers calling in sick or taking side jobs to make ends meet during the shutdown.
Several major airlines have pledged to offer full refunds to passengers affected by the cancellations, as the disruption threatens to cause widespread travel chaos ahead of the weekend.