US to begin canceling flights from Friday as govt shutdown continues

US officials said Wednesday the scheduled capacity for flights was being cut by 10 per cent from Friday in 40 busy air traffic areas of the country, with an ongoing government shutdown causing major staffing woes.

"There is going to be a 10-per-cent reduction in capacity at 40 of our locations," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told a news conference.

Federal Aviation Administration chief Bryan Bedford said the cuts would come at "40 high traffic environment markets."