CHICAGO/WASHINGTON/NEW YORK: U.S. airlines were forced to overhaul schedules and respond to anxious travelers after the Trump administration ordered flight reductions at major airports due to a worsening air traffic controller shortage amid the ongoing government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history.

The cuts, which began on November 7, affect hundreds of thousands of passengers with little notice. Aviation analytics firm Cirium estimated up to 1,800 flights canceled daily, reducing 268,000 airline seats across the country. International flights are not affected.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered a 10 percent flight reduction at 40 major U.S. airports, including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later said airlines would initially cut four percent of domestic flights from November 7 to 10, increasing to 10 percent by November 14.

The FAA said it may reject any airline plans that disproportionately affect certain communities and warned it could also reduce general aviation flights if staffing worsens. It confirmed that the restrictions do not apply to international routes.

Airlines scrambled to adjust schedules and minimize passenger disruption. American Airlines said it would cancel about 220 daily flights till November 10, mainly regional routes, while keeping about 6,000 daily flights in operation. Delta Air Lines announced 170 U.S. flight cancellations on November 7, and United Airlines said it would cut four percent of flights, or fewer than 200 a day. Southwest Airlines canceled around 120 flights, while Alaska Airlines and Frontier also began limited cuts.

In a memo, American Airlines Chief Operating Officer David Seymour told employees: "You deserve the same level of certainty as our customers," adding the company would work to avoid disrupting pilot and flight attendant schedules.

Airlines are offering passengers greater flexibility to rebook or receive full refunds, but the Transportation Department clarified that carriers are not required to cover hotel or meal costs, since the cancellations stem from government action.

To ease the impact, airlines are deploying larger planes to consolidate passengers. Still, social media was flooded with complaints from travelers trying to confirm itineraries. Travel app Hopper reported a 60 percent overnight jump in sales of its "disruption assistance" service after the announcement.

The FAA cited safety concerns in ordering the cuts. "It's safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week," said Duffy. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency would take "further action if needed to protect safety."

About 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been working without pay during the shutdown, with absenteeism exceeding 30 percent at some airports. The FAA was already short 3,500 controllers before the shutdown, forcing many to work overtime.

The flight cuts come as U.S. airlines were counting on steady demand after a slow first half of the year. But the uncertainty may dent consumer confidence, even as reduced capacity is expected to push airfares higher.

"Stick with your current travel plans," urged Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu, acknowledging that travelers are frustrated.

Some passengers have already faced chaos. Grace Logeman, 40, drove two hours to Newark, New Jersey, for a Frontier flight to Atlanta, only to face a three-hour delay that caused her to miss a connection to the Dominican Republic. "I'm devastated," she said. "As far as the ongoing shutdown... it's hurting me. I'm the one sitting here now."