WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department plans to begin flight cuts at 4% on Friday at 40 high-volume airports in response to safety concerns about air traffic control staffing issues as a government shutdown hits its 36th day, four sources told Reuters.

The Federal Aviation Administration told airlines on a call the planned cuts would start at 4% Friday, rise to 5% Saturday and 6% Sunday before hitting 10% next week.

The FAA plans to exempt international flights from the cuts but told airlines it was making drastic cuts in general aviation flights at those major airports.

USDOT and FAA did not immediately comment.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

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