WASHINGTON - United Airlines customers with flights booked to travel during the government shutdown will be eligible for a refund, CEO Scott Kirby told employees in a memo on Wednesday.

The news came after the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation announced a reduction in schedules across 40 domestic airports, starting on Friday, as a result of the shutdown.

"[A]ny customer traveling during this period is eligible for a refund if they do not wish to fly – even if their flight isn't impacted. That includes non-refundable tickets and those customers with basic economy tickets," Kirby said in the memo.

He added that the airline's "long-haul international flying and our hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted by this schedule reduction direction from the FAA.

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