WASHINGTON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Airlines canceled nearly

1,200 flights on Tuesday, the fifth consecutive day they have

topped 1,000 since the government imposed mandatory flight

reductions to address safety concerns.

The Federal Aviation Administration last week instructed

airlines to cut 4% of daily flights starting on Friday at 40

major airports because of air traffic control staffing

issues. Reductions in flights rose to 6% on Tuesday and then hit

8% Thursday and 10% on November 14. Airlines and the FAA are in

discussions about whether the cuts will be reduced as a

record-setting 42-day government shutdown nears an end.