Travelers face cancellations and frustration as the FAA orders flight cuts due to the shutdown

Hundreds of flight cancellations spread across the U.S. on Friday as airlines began complying with the Federal Aviation Administration 's unprecedented order to scale down routes nationwide because of the government shutdown.

While the FAA order left some passengers scrambling to figure out backup plans, most were relieved to find their planes still on schedule as airlines slowly phase-in reductions at the nation's busiest airports.