By RIO YAMAT and JOSH FUNK, Associated Press

Air travelers could face more frustration as busy U.S. airports need to meet a higher Federal Aviation Administration target for reducing flights Tuesday after already canceling thousands to scale back demands on the nation’s aviation system during the government shutdown .

Absences and signs of stress among traffic controllers, who haven’t been paid in over a month, made it imperative to cut flights in the name of public safety, the FAA said, ordering domestic airlines last week to drop 4% of their flights at 40 major U.S. airports . After already canceling more than 7,900 since Friday, the goal for cutting flights rose to 6% on Tuesday and again to 10% on Friday.

Nearly 1,200 flights were canceled Tuesday, according to FlightAware

See Full Page