As Congress moves closer to ending the record-breaking government shutdown that has disrupted thousands of flights nationwide, a swift return to normal operations at U.S. airports remains unlikely.

The Senate approved a bipartisan deal to end the shutdown on Monday night, sending the measure to the House, which is expected to take it up later this week. If passed, the legislation would reopen the government and restore pay for hundreds of thousands of federal employees who have been working without pay since Oct. 1.