AIRPORTS IN NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES AND CHICAGO ARE AMONG 40 OF THE BUSIEST ACROSS THE U.S. WHERE FLIGHTS WILL BE CUT STARTING FRIDAY DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO A LIST DISTRIBUTED TO THE AIRLINES AND OBTAINED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY THAT IT WOULD REDUCE AIR TRAFFIC BY 10% ACROSS 40 “HIGH-VOLUME” MARKETS TO MAINTAIN TRAVEL SAFETY.

THE AFFECTED AIRPORTS ALSO INCLUDE ATLANTA, DENVER, DALLAS, ORLANDO, MIAMI, AND SAN FRANCISCO.

THE FAA IS IMPOSING THE FLIGHT REDUCTIONS TO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WHO ARE WORKING WITHOUT PAY DURING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND HAVE BEEN INCREASINGLY CALLING OUT OF WORK.

CONTROLLERS HAVE ALREADY MISSED ONE FULL PAYCHECK AND ARE SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE NOTHING NEXT WEEK IF THE SHUTDOWN DRAGS ON.

AIRLINES SAID THEY WOULD TRY TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON CUSTOMERS, SOME OF WHOM WILL SEE WEEKEND TRAVEL PLANS DISRUPTED WITH LITTLE NOTICE.

UNITED AIRLINES SAID IT WOULD FOCUS THE CUTS ON SMALLER REGIONAL ROUTES THAT USE SMALLER PLANES.

UNITED, DELTA AIR LINES AND AMERICAN AIRLINES SAID THEY WOULD OFFER REFUNDS TO PASSENGERS WHO OPT NOT TO FLY, EVEN IF THEY PURCHASED TICKETS THAT AREN’T NORMALLY REFUNDABLE.