Americans are bracing for flight cancellations at dozens of major airports across the country due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that there would be a 10% reduction in flights at 40 airports. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford told CEOs of major airlines the cuts would begin at 4% on Nov. 7, rise to 5% on Nov. 8 and 6% on Nov. 9 before hitting 10% next week.

The announcement sent airlines scrambling to rework schedules and field a flood of questions from consumers as concern grows about how the move will affect travelers. The news comes just weeks ahead of a busy holiday travel season.

"I think it's going to lead to more cancellations, but we are going to work with the airlines to do this in a systematic way," Duffy said at a Nov. 5 news conference.

The cuts come days after Duffy warned air travel could be disrupted due to the mounting pressure on the country's air traffic controllers. The government shutdown, which has lasted 37 days, has forced about 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners to work without pay.

Atlanta, Boston brace for flight cuts

A spokesperson for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport − the nation's busiest by passenger volume − said in a statement to USA TODAY the airport is currently operating without disruption. But officials are aware it has been identified as one of those that will be affected by the shutdown-related flight cuts.

"Therefore, we are preparing to activate measures to ensure that passengers who may be affected by the FAA flight reductions continue to have an optimal experience," the statement said.

Boston's Logan International Airport confirmed it is among those the FAA says will see flight reductions "to maintain the operational safety of the nation’s airspace," Samantha Decker, a spokesperson for Massport, said in a statement.

"For those traveling over the next few days, we do anticipate delays and cancellations and strongly urge passengers to check with their airline before coming to the airport," Decker said.

One-way car rentals surging, Hertz says

As travelers face potential disruptions to flight schedules, some appear to be opting to drive to their destination instead. Car rental company Hertz reported seeing an increase in one-way bookings for Nov. 8, when air traffic is set to be cut by 5%.

Reservations for one-way rentals for through Nov. 9 have spiked over 20% year-over-year since the announcement, according to the company. Hertz CEO Gil West joined airlines in calling for an end to the government shutdown in a statement.

"We join the airlines in urging Congress to swiftly pass a clean continuing resolution and restore certainty for travelers," West said. "Every day of delay creates unnecessary disruption."

Which 40 airports are facing flight reductions?

Major airports in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and more are included in the list of 40 sites facing flight reductions, according to reports from ABC News and CBS News, which cited anonymous sources. USA TODAY has reached out to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The other airports named to face flight cuts are listed here, but could change when an official list is released by the FAA, according to reports from ABC News and CBS News.

‒ James Powel and Jay Cannon

What to know if your flight is delayed or canceled

If your flight is canceled Scott Keyes, founder of Going, recommended using the airlines' mobile app to rebook as soon as possible. If passengers need to speak with someone by phone, Keyes suggested calling one of the carrier’s international lines.

"The best thing travelers can do is to be as proactive as possible switching to a new flight,” Keyes told USA TODAY. “When a flight gets canceled, all of a sudden hundreds of passengers need new itineraries. There may only be a handful of seats left on the best flights, and it's a first-come, first-(served) endeavor.”

If your flight is affected by shutdown-related staffing issues, you may not be entitled to much. FAA staffing is considered outside of an airline’s control, so carriers aren’t on the hook in the same way they would be for delays caused by mechanical issues or other problems on their end.

Still, if your flight is canceled for any reason, including a shortage of air traffic controllers, you’re entitled to a full refund if you choose not to fly on alternative itineraries offered by your airline. The same goes for “significant” delays or changes.

What are the airlines saying?

Delta Air Lines in a statement shared with USA TODAY said it expects to operate the vast majority of its flights as scheduled, including all long-haul international flights.

United Airlines said that the airline will make rolling updates to its schedule as the record-breaking government shutdown continues and will provide travelers "several days' advance notice" of changes to minimize disruption.

Southwest Airlines said it is evaluating how the flight restrictions will "affect our schedule and will communicate directly with customers as soon as possible," the company told USA TODAY in an emailed statement.

American Airlines told USA TODAY that flights on Nov. 6 will operate as planned and they are waiting for the FAA to provide additional information to "determine which flights will be impacted."

"We expect the vast majority of our customers’ travel will be unaffected," American Airlines said. "We will proactively reach out to customers who are impacted."

Alaska Airlines said that they're also aware of the FAA's plan to reduce flights as soon as Nov. 7 due to the government shutdown and are "awaiting further guidance."

'Disruption Assistance' sales soar

Following the announcement of impending flight reductions, travel platform Hopper said it saw a 40% surge overnight in flyers adding Disruption Assistance, which allows travelers to re-book their flight on any airline if their flight is canceled or delayed for at least 2 hours by the airline, according to the company's website. Passengers can also opt for a 100% refund for their ticket and keep their original reservation.

Since the start of the shutdown, Hopper said sales of Disruption Assistance have skyrocketed over 60%.

Contributing: Eve Chen and Nathan Diller, USA TODAY; Bailey Allen, USA TODAY Network - New England; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Airports, airlines and travelers brace for looming flight cuts. Latest updates.

Reporting by N'dea Yancey-Bragg, Kathryn Palmer, Kathleen Wong and Zach Wichter, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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