Hundreds more U.S. flights could be cancelled today. Here’s what you need to know

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled across the U.S. this week — with more expected in the coming days — as airlines comply with a mandated reduction in service due to the ongoing government shutdown.

It’s part of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) plan to reduce air traffi c by 10 per cent — a move the agency says is necessary in order to maintain travel safety amid staffing shortages caused by the shutdown that began on Oct. 1.

Wondering how it got to this point? Here’s an overview of what we know so far:

What's the reason for the flight cuts?

The FAA says imposing the flight reductions is meant to relieve some of the pressure on air traffic controllers who are working without pay as the shutdown continues, and have been increasingly calling off work .

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