WASHINGTON — Airports in major U.S. cities will have fewer flights starting Friday as the Federal Aviation Administration reduces air traffic to ease the strain on air traffic controllers during the government shutdown.

The airports directly impacted include some of the nation's busiest, including Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Orlando, Miami and more. A list of the 40 airports was distributed to airlines and confirmed in an order published by the agency Thursday evening .

Airlines scrambled to adjust their schedules and began canceling flights Thursday in anticipation of the FAA's official order, while travelers with plans for the weekend and beyond waited nervously to learn if their flights would take off as scheduled.

Airlines also planned cancellations into the weekend, directing

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