Order to reduce U.S. flights because of government shutdown goes into effect

By JOSH FUNK and RIO YAMAT, The Associated Press

The Federal Aviation Administration ‘s unprecedented order to scale back flights nationwide because of the record-long government shutdown took effect Friday morning, with some passengers trying to figure out backup travel plans.

The 40 airports selected by the FAA span more than two dozen states and include hubs such as Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles and Charlotte, North Carolina, according to the order. Philadelphia airport is on the list.

In some metropolitan areas, including New York, Houston, Chicago and Washington, multiple airports will be impacted, while the ripple effects could reach smaller airports as well.

A spokesman at Harrisburg International in Dauphin County says it’s too soon to say if it’ll be affected .

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