FAA, major airports and flight reductions
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The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce flight capacity by 10% at 40 major airports across the country, officials announced during a press conference on Wednesday. The decision could cut thousands of flights per day.
As many as 1,800 flights could be affected on Friday alone, according to Cirium, an aviation-data provider. The final figure will depend on which airports are targeted. The FAA estimates that it handles an average of more than 44,000 flights a day.
The cuts have been prompted by the government shutdown, which has left air traffic controllers working without pay. FAA officials say the goal is to maintain travel safety. Since the shutdown began Oct.
As the federal government shutdown carries through to another day, making it the longest in U.S. history, flight disruptions continue.