Multiple United Airlines planes pictured on July 3, 2023, at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J.

United Airlines confirmed it will cancel 4% of its flights this weekend amid restrictions imposed by federal transportation officials.

The cuts would impact "fewer than 200 flights" on Friday, Nov. 7, the airline said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY on Nov. 6. Cancellations will continue throughout the weekend, with 4% of United flights being canceled on Saturday, Nov. 8 and Sunday, Nov. 9.

The announcement comes after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Nov. 5 that 40 major airports will see a 10% cut in flights. Duffy had previously warned of the staffing strain on air traffic controllers across the United States amid the record-breaking government shutdown.

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford told CEOs of major airlines the flight cuts would begin at a 4% reduction on Nov. 7, rise to 5% on Nov. 8 and 6% on Nov. 9 before hitting 10% next week.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby promised refunds to customers who did not want to fly during restrictions in a memo to employees on Nov. 5.

The drastic plan for flight reductions sent airlines scrambling to make significant reductions in flights in just 36 hours and passengers flooded airline customer service hotlines with concerns about air travel in the coming days.

Where might United Airlines flights be cancelled?

Major airports in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and more are included in the list of sites facing flight reductions, according to the emergency order provided to USA TODAY by the Department of Transportation late Nov. 6.

The airports named to face flight cuts are listed below:

  • Anchorage International (ANC)
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
  • Boston Logan International (BOS)
  • Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
  • Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
  • Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
  • Dallas Love (DAL)
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
  • Denver International (DEN)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
  • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
  • Newark Liberty International (EWR)
  • Houston Hobby (HOU)
  • Washington Dulles International (IAD)
  • George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
  • Indianapolis International (IND)
  • New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
  • Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
  • Los Angeles International (LAX)
  • New York LaGuardia (LGA)
  • Orlando International (MCO)
  • Chicago Midway (MDW)
  • Memphis International (MEM)
  • Miami International (MIA)
  • Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP)
  • Oakland International (OAK)
  • Ontario International (ONT)
  • Chicago O`Hare International (ORD)
  • Portland International (PDX)
  • Philadelphia International (PHL)
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
  • San Diego International (SAN)
  • Louisville International (SDF)
  • Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)
  • San Francisco International (SFO)
  • Salt Lake City International (SLC)
  • Teterboro (TEB)
  • Tampa International (TPA)

Kirby described the types of flights that may be cut under the reduction outlined in the Nov. 5 memo, saying that domestic flights that do not connect to the airline's hubs and "regional flying" are on the chopping block.

International flying and hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted, according to Kirby. The CEO said it was important to "give impacted customers as many options as possible to resume their trip."

USA TODAY has followed up with United Airlines to ask which specific routes will be impacted and has not received a response as of late Nov. 6.

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: United Airlines says 4% of its flights will be canceled this weekend

Reporting by James Powel, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect