WASHINGTON >> Airlines canceled nearly 1,200 flights today, the fifth consecutive day they have topped 1,000 since the government imposed mandatory flight reductions to address safety concerns.

Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration instructed airlines to cut 4% of daily flights starting on Friday, Nov. 7, at 40 major airports because of air traffic control staffing issues. Reductions in flights rose to 6% today.

Flight reductions were set to hit 8% on Thursday and 10% on Friday, Nov. 14. Airlines and the FAA are in discussions about when and how the cuts will be reduced and eventually eliminated as a record-setting 42-day government shutdown nears an end. There are a number of different options being discussed for how the FAA might end or shrink the flight cuts, sources told Reu

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