Philadelphia airport braces for disruptions as FAA cuts flights

The big picture: PHL is among 40 "high-traffic" U.S. airports where the Federal Aviation Administration has planned to reduce 10% of flights in response to the longest-ever government shutdown, per the AP.

• The cuts come as air traffic controllers and other staff are facing their second skipped paycheck.
• The cuts may start at 4% Friday before ramping up to 10% over the following few days if the shutdown continues, per CNN.

By the numbers: If PHL were to see the 10% reduction carried out on Friday, flight cancellations could total 37, per data from aviation analytics company Cirium.

• That could affect more than 5,000 travelers.

What they're saying: Heather Redfern, a spokesperson for Philly's Department of Aviation, deferred questions about the flight reductions to the FAA.

• But she tells Axios that travelers should contact their airlines and register for text and email alerts to receive the latest on their flight status.

The FAA did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment Thursday morning and early afternoon.

Zoom in: American Airlines, PHL's largest carrier, is waiving penalties for travelers requesting refunds or flight changes because of cancellations or their decision not to fly, per the carrier's website.

• American noted that the majority of its customers wouldn't be affected, and long-haul international travel will remain on schedule.

The head of Frontier Airlines, PHL's second-largest carrier, was advising its travelers to buy backup tickets with another airline, per CNN.

Plus: United Airlines is offering refunds for all travelers during this period, including non-refundable and basic economy tickets.

Meanwhile, PHL travelers were already facing delays at security checkpoints after the TSA temporarily closed those at Terminals A-West and F starting Wednesday.

Go deeper: What to do if the FAA cuts or cancels your flight

This is a developing story. Please check back for more details.