WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce air traffic at 40 busy airports beginning Friday , citing growing fatigue among air traffic controllers who have worked without pay since the government shutdown began Oct. 1.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced the cuts Wednesday afternoon, saying the move would affect roughly 3,500 to 4,000 flights daily.

Hundreds of flights scheduled for Friday were already cut at some of the 40 busiest airports, and the number of cancellations climbed throughout Thursday afternoon.

At least 456 flights have already been canceled on Friday, according to www.FlightAware.com . That’s more than four times higher than the number of flights cancelled Thursday.

Airlines will phase in the cuts at

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