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Multiple flights across the United States have been canceled as the FAA implements a phased reduction in air traffic at 40 major airports.

Getting into it: According to FlightAware, over 800 domestic flights were canceled on Friday alone, with thousands more expected over the coming days as the FAA begins enforcing mandatory cutbacks in air traffic due to staffing shortages. The cuts, announced in an emergency FAA order, will be implemented gradually (starting with a 4% reduction on Friday, increasing to 6% by Monday, Nov. 11, 8% by Thursday, Nov. 13, and reaching a 10% cap by Friday, Nov. 14). Airlines were notified that failure to comply could result in fines of $75,000 per flight over the cap. The FAA stressed that these actions are necessary to “alleviate building risk in the system,” as nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay during the government shutdown, leading to rising fatigue, stress, and a growing number of absences.

Major US carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines have all begun canceling hundreds of domestic flights in response to the order. American canceled roughly 220 of its 6,000 daily flights, Delta reported around 170 cancellations per day, and United is canceling roughly 200 flights per day, primarily targeting regional routes with lower passenger volume. Executives say most passengers are being rebooked within hours, and the majority of high-demand routes will be preserved.

The economic fallout of the cuts is already being felt. Analysts estimate the travel disruptions could affect up to 268,000 passengers and 1,800 flights daily. Airlines stand to lose tens of millions of dollars in potential revenue, even as they attempt to consolidate bookings and avoid overcapacity. Meanwhile, rental car companies such as Hertz have seen a 20% spike in one-way reservations as passengers look for alternative modes of transportation. The Department of Transportation warns that if the shutdown continues, the reduction could exceed 10%, potentially reaching 15–20% in the coming weeks.

The 40 impacted airports are: Anchorage International (ANC), Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), Boston Logan International (BOS), Charlotte Douglas International (CLT), Chicago Midway International (MDW), Chicago O’Hare International (ORD), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG), Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Denver International (DEN), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL), George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH), Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL), Honolulu International (HNL), Houston Hobby (HOU), Indianapolis International (IND), Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS), Los Angeles International (LAX), Louisville Muhammad Ali International (SDF), Memphis International (MEM), Miami International (MIA), Minneapolis-Saint Paul International (MSP), New York LaGuardia (LGA), New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK), Newark Liberty International (EWR), Oakland International (OAK), Ontario International (ONT), Orlando International (MCO), Philadelphia International (PHL), Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), Portland International (PDX), Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), San Diego International (SAN), Salt Lake City International (SLC), San Francisco International (SFO), Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA), Tampa International (TPA), Teterboro (TEB), and Washington Dulles International (IAD).