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Congress passes bill to end widespread airline delays | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US lawmakers have approved measures to ease travel delays caused by unpaid leave for air traffic controllers as a result of budget cuts. | |
The US House of Representatives voted 361-41 in favour of a plan passed by the Senate on Thursday that would cover the essential aviation staff's costs. | |
The bill allows the Federal Aviation Administration to move up to $253m (£163m) from other accounts. | |
The air regulator said the unpaid leave caused 853 flight delays on Wednesday. | The air regulator said the unpaid leave caused 853 flight delays on Wednesday. |
The FAA has had to cut $637m from its budget as part of an $85bn government-wide deficit reduction plan that began last month. | The FAA has had to cut $637m from its budget as part of an $85bn government-wide deficit reduction plan that began last month. |
'Wildcat regulatory action' | 'Wildcat regulatory action' |
As a result, the FAA has reduced the work schedules of nearly all of its 47,000 employees by one day every two weeks. | As a result, the FAA has reduced the work schedules of nearly all of its 47,000 employees by one day every two weeks. |
The staff include air traffic controllers and technicians who keep airport towers and radars working. | The staff include air traffic controllers and technicians who keep airport towers and radars working. |
The bill will now be sent to the White House for President Barack Obama to sign. | |
The legislation would end the unpaid leave and allow for enough funding to prevent the closure of towers at small airports around the country. | |
But correspondents say it is not clear how quickly services will be restored to normal. | |
Thursday's Senate vote followed many hours of closed-door negotiations and the departure of several lawmakers - who had apparently given up hope of a deal - for a week-long recess. | |
A small group of senators insisted on reaching an agreement before the holiday, amid warnings of political repercussions from continued airport delays. | A small group of senators insisted on reaching an agreement before the holiday, amid warnings of political repercussions from continued airport delays. |
Airlines and unions representing airport employees have been pushing for a resolution in Congress. | Airlines and unions representing airport employees have been pushing for a resolution in Congress. |
Robert Isom, head of operations at US Airways, said the FAA furloughs were like a "wildcat regulatory action". | Robert Isom, head of operations at US Airways, said the FAA furloughs were like a "wildcat regulatory action". |
"In the airline business, you try to eliminate uncertainty," he said. "Some factors you can't control, like weather. [The FAA issue] is worse than the weather." | "In the airline business, you try to eliminate uncertainty," he said. "Some factors you can't control, like weather. [The FAA issue] is worse than the weather." |