The Federal Aviation Administration's order to scale back flights nationwide because of the government shutdown is now in effect. Flights at 40 major airports including in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are being cut Friday. The FAA says its goal is to reduce flights by up to 10% to ease pressure on unpaid air traffic controllers. Hundreds scheduled for Friday already have been canceled. The impact is expected to be felt across the U.S. air transportation system, affecting both passengers and package deliveries.

Flight cancellations are accelerating as U.S. airlines comply with a government order to cut flights because of the shutdown. Airports in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are among 40 of the busiest across the U.S. where flights will be cut. That is according to a list published Thursday evening by the Federal Aviation Administration. The agency says it will begin reducing air traffic on Friday to maintain safety, as air traffic controllers go unpaid and show signs of strain during the shutdown. The plan is to phase-in cuts of 10% of flights across the affected airports. Airlines say they will try to minimize the impact on travelers.

The Federal Aviation Administration says it plans to reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets beginning Friday morning to maintain safety during the ongoing government shutdown. The reduction stands to impact thousands of flights nationwide. Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown began Oct. 1. With some calling out of work, staffing shortages during some shifts have led to flight delays at a number of U.S. airports. Citing growing staffing pressures, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said Wednesday that the agency would not wait for a crisis to act. He says a list of the affected markets will be released sometime Thursday.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted Tuesday that there could be chaos in the skies next week if the government shutdown drags on and air traffic controllers miss a second paycheck. The FAA slows down or even stops flights temporarily anytime it is short on controllers or if there is an equipment problem. There have already been numerous delays at airports across the country — sometimes hours long — during the shutdown. Duffy warned that the situation will only get worse the longer the shutdown continues and the financial pressure continues to grow on people who are forced to work without pay. FAA employees already missed one paycheck on Oct. 28. Their next payday is scheduled for next Tuesday.

The U.S. government shutdown has now dragged on for over a month, and shortages of air traffic controllers are straining operations — with flight disruptions piling up nationwide. The situation may well get worse the longer the shutdown goes and workers go without a paycheck. And there is no way to predict what airports might have problems on any given day. So be sure to check your flight's status before you head to the airport. If your flight is canceled, airlines will rebook you on a later flight. If you no longer want to take the trip, you should be able to get a refund. But each airline's policies can differ, and airlines are not required to pay cash compensation.

Flight delays are continuing at U.S. airports amid air traffic controller shortages as the government shutdown enters its second month. Newark airport in New Jersey was experiencing delays of two to three hours on Sunday. George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Chicago O’Hare were also seeing dozens of delays and one or two cancellations. Other delays were being reported at major airports in Los Angeles and Miami.