(NBC CHICAGO) - Chicago's O'Hare and Midway Airports are among 40 high-traffic markets that will see thousands of flights cut starting Friday, a report from NBC News said, as the Federal Aviation Administration works to maintain air travel safety amid the longest government shutdown in history, which now stretches into its 37th day.
The measure come days after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of "mass chaos, cancellations and flight delays" if lawmakers allow the shutdown to continue.
The cuts amount to a 10% reduction in flights at 40 airports across the country, Duffy said Wednesday during a press conference with Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford. Bedford and Duffy said the decision about which airports are impacted was based on where air traffic controllers, who are essential employees working without pay, are feeling the most pressure.
"We are seeing pressures build in a way that we don't feel if we allow it to go unchecked, will allow us to continue to tell the public that we operate the safest airline system in the world, and we're not going to react to that, and we intend to be proactive," Bedford said.
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.
“I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” Bedford added. “We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns.”
The FAA, which directs more than 44,000 flights a day, including commercial passenger flights, cargo planes and private aircraft, said restrictions will remain in place as long as necessary.
In a statement sent to NBC Chicago, the Chicago Department of Aviation said it is "monitoring the situation closely" as it awaits further details on potential impacts at Midway and O'Hare.
"Our team will continue coordinating with airline and federal partners to help minimize any disruptions," the statement said.
O'Hare in particular has seen dozens of flights a day delayed due to staff shortages. As of 5:30 a.m. Thursday, the number of flights delayed at O'Hare was 22, with six cancelations.
Where will flights be cut?
NBC News obtained the following list of impacted airports Wednesday, with the FAA expected to put out an official release Thursday.
- ANC – Anchorage International
- ATL – Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International
- BOS – Boston Logan International
- BWI – Baltimore/Washington International
- CLT – Charlotte Douglas International
- CVG – Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
- DAL – Dallas Love Field
- DCA – Ronald Reagan Washington National
- DEN – Denver International
- DFW – Dallas/Fort Worth International
- DTW – Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
- EWR – Newark Liberty International
- FLL – Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International
- HNL – Honolulu International
- HOU – William P. Hobby (Houston Hobby)
- IAD – Washington Dulles International
- IAH – George Bush Intercontinental (Houston)
- IND – Indianapolis International
- JFK – John F. Kennedy International (New York)
- LAS – Harry Reid International (Las Vegas)
- LAX – Los Angeles International
- LGA – LaGuardia (New York)
- MCO – Orlando International
- MDW – Chicago Midway International
- MEM – Memphis International
- MIA – Miami International
- MSP – Minneapolis–St. Paul International
- OAK – Oakland International
- ONT – Ontario International
- ORD – Chicago O’Hare International
- PDX – Portland International
- PHL – Philadelphia International
- PHX – Phoenix Sky Harbor International
- SAN – San Diego International
- SDF – Louisville International
- SEA – Seattle–Tacoma International
- SFO – San Francisco International
- SLC – Salt Lake City International
- TEB – Teterboro
- TPA – Tampa International
Will your flight be affected?
In a message to customers, Chicago-based United Airlines confirmed the cuts will begin Friday, Nov. 7.
"We will continue to make rolling updates to our schedule as the government shutdown continues so we can give our customers several days' advance notice and to minimize disruption for them and for all of you," United CEO Scott Kirby said.
Kirby went on to say that the airline's long-haul international flying and hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted by the schedule reduction.
"Instead, we will focus our schedule reductions on regional flying and domestic mainline flights that do not travel between our hubs," Kirby said.
According to the airline, United has seven hubs in the U.S. as part of its "hub and spoke model" – Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark Liberty, San Francisco and Washington Dulles.
Kirby added that customers traveling during this period are eligible for a refund, even if their flights aren't impacted.
Southwest Airlines and United Airlines did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago's request for comment.
Overall, the cuts could represent as many as 1,800 flights and upward of 268,000 seats combined, according to an estimate by aviation analytics firm Cirium. For example, O’Hare International Airport in Chicago could see 121 of its 1,212 flights currently scheduled for Friday cut if the FAA distributes the reductions equally among impacted airports, Cirium said.
