The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it was taking the extraordinary step of reducing air traffic by 10 per cent across 40 "high-volume" U.S. markets beginning Friday morning to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers exhibit signs of strain during the ongoing government shutdown.

The cutback stands to impact thousands of flights across the country because the FAA directs more than 44,000 flights daily, including commercial passenger flights, cargo planes and private aircraft.

The head of the FAA didn't immediately identify which airports will be affected but said the restrictions would remain in place as long as necessary. It's not clear whether international flights will be affected.

Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown

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