WASHINGTON, Nov 12 (Reuters) - U.S. flight cancellations

have fallen sharply over the last day as air traffic control

absences have shrunk just hours before the House of

Representatives is set to vote on a bill Wednesday to end a

record-setting government shutdown.

Airlines in the United States have canceled nearly 900 flights

Wednesday -- the lowest in six days -- under a Federal Aviation

Administration requirement they cancel 6% of flights at the 40

busiest airports to address safety concerns. Some airlines told

Reuters they think the FAA will reduce a planned 8% flight cut

on Thursday to 6%. Air traffic control absences accounted for

just 1% of delays on Tuesday, compared with 5% on average before

the shutdown, the FAA said.