At least 800 flights were canceled Friday at 40 airports across the U.S. as the FAA slashed routes as a result of the government shutdown, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.
Why it matters: With the Thanksgiving travel rush weeks away, the cuts will hit some of the busiest airports in the U.S. — including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Dallas Fort Worth International.
- A 4% "reduction in operations" took effect Friday, "ramping up" to 6% by Tuesday, 8% by Nov. 13 and 10% by Nov. 14, per a Thursday evening emailed statement from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford.
Catch up quick: Duffy has warned of "mass chaos" stemming from staffing shortages as critical air travel staff feels the strain of missed paychecks.
- "This is going to lead to more cancellations," Duffy said during Wednesday's briefing.
State of play: As the longest-ever U.S. shutdown drags on, many air traffic employees continue working without pay.
- Many workers have continued to call out sick.
See the full list the FAA issued below:
Go deeper: What to do if the FAA cuts or cancels your flight
Editor's note: This story was updated with new details and context.
