British News Agency

If the longest government shutdown in U.S. history continues, millions of Americans planning to fly this month may have their travel plans canceled just weeks before the holiday season.

Many major airlines have already canceled hundreds of flights scheduled for Friday and the weekend. An airline official told CNN that the cancellations will affect carriers as they do on busy days, but unlike a storm, they will spread across multiple cities rather than one specific region.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said that the reduction in flights will be limited to 40 “high-traffic markets” and added, “We will ask airlines to work cooperatively with us to reduce their schedules.”

The FAA’s order, issued Thursday, included three major New York airports: LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy International, and Newark Liberty International. Other affected airports in the Northeast include Boston Logan International, Philadelphia International, and Teterboro in New Jersey.

Starting Friday, other regions affected will include:

Midwest: Indianapolis International, Chicago Midway International, Chicago O’Hare International, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Louisville International, and Minneapolis–St. Paul International.

South: Charlotte Douglas International, Dallas Love Field, Dallas–Fort Worth International, Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International, Houston Hobby, George Bush Intercontinental Houston, Memphis International, Orlando International, Miami International, and Tampa International.