OTTAWA — As many as 40 American airports will see traffic reductions if the ongoing U.S. government shutdown continues, potentially cancelling hundreds of U.S. domestic flights.

Officials at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will ramp down flights by 10% if no deal’s reached in the country’s longest government shutdown, which as of Thursday spans 37 days.

“As we start to implement this drawdown in service. It will be restricted to these 40 high volume traffic markets,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.

“We’re going to ask the airlines to work with us collaboratively to reduce their schedules.”

Restrictions will start at four per cent on Friday, eventually increasing to 10% by next week if no deal is reached.

International flights are to be exempt from these reductions.

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