Normal operations to resume as furloughs end

The Federal Aviation Administration said Saturday afternoon that normal operations of its system would resume by Sunday evening after Congress passed legislation that allowed the agency to end furloughs.

In a statement Saturday, the FAA said it has suspended all employee furloughs and that air traffic facilities "will begin to return to regular staffing levels over the next 24 hours."

The House cleared legislation Friday that allows agency to shift $253 million from other accounts to end furloughs that began Sunday. The Senate approved the measure Thursday night. On Friday, Lawmakers said the furloughs could end immediately after President Obama signs the bill into law. White House spokesman Jay Carney said President Obama would sign the bill, though he wasn't sure when.

About 40% of delays last week were a result of not enough controllers in towers, the FAA said, with 1,200 delays blamed on staffing on Monday, 1,025 on Tuesday and 863 on Wednesday.