U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Friday the administration could force airlines to cut up to 20 per cent of flights if the government shutdown did not end, as U.S. airlines scrambled to make unprecedented government-imposed reductions.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated airlines on Friday to cut four per cent of flights at 40 major airports because of a record-setting government shutdown. Cuts will rise to 10 per cent by Nov. 14.

Duffy told reporters it was possible he could require 20 per cent cuts later. "I assess the data," he said. "We're going to make decisions based on what we see in the air space."

The cuts, which began at 6 a.m. ET, include about 700 flights from the four largest carriers — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airline

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