ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando International Airport is among 40 U.S. airports where air traffic is set to be cut by the Federal Aviation Administration amid an ongoing government shutdown.
The FAA said Wednesday that it was taking the step to reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets starting on Friday morning to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers suffer the strain of the shutdown.
The cutback is expected to impact thousands of flights across the country, as the FAA directs over 44,000 flights daily.
[BELOW: FAA reduces air traffic across ‘high-volume’ markets]
Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown began Oct. 1, and most have been on duty six days a week while putting in mandatory overtime.
With some calling out of work due to frustration, taking second jobs or not having money for child care or gas, staffing shortages during some shifts have led to flight delays at a number of U.S. airports, including MCO last week.
[BELOW: Air traffic controller issues cause major delays at MCO]
Aside from MCO, though, the FAA also lists the following airports as being impacted by the cutback:
- Anchorage International
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
- Boston Logan International
- Baltimore/Washington International
- Charlotte Douglas International
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
- Dallas Love
- Ronald Reagan Washington National
- Denver International
- Dallas/Fort Worth International
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
- Newark Liberty International
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International
- Honolulu International
- Houston Hobby
- Washington Dulles International
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental
- Indianapolis International
- New York John F Kennedy International
- Las Vegas McCarran International
- Los Angeles International
- New York LaGuardia
- Orlando International
- Chicago Midway
- Memphis International
- Miami International
- Minneapolis/St. Paul International
- Oakland International
- Ontario International
- Chicago O’Hare International
- Portland International
- Philadelphia International
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International
- San Diego International
- Louisville International
- Seattle/Tacoma International
- San Francisco International
- Salt Lake City International
- Teterboro
- Tampa International
The Associated Press contributed to this report.