WASHINGTON: Airlines canceled 1,200 flights on Tuesday as air traffic control staffing improved significantly ahead of an expected end to a record-setting government shutdown as soon as Wednesday. After airlines canceled 2,400 flights and delayed 9,600 on Monday, airlines delayed just 1,700 on Tuesday, the best performance for the industry in recent days. Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration instructed airlines to cut 4 percent of daily flights starting on Friday, November 7, at 40 major airports because of air traffic control staffing issues.

The Federal Aviation Administration is temporarily cutting air traffic by 10 percent to maintain safety standards.

US lawmakers are working over the weekend as they seek a bipartisan deal to end the shutdown, which is now on day 40.