The Senate yesterday voted to spend $253 million to end the furloughs of air- traffic controllers, the first step to ending the widespread delays hitting fliers nationwide.

The controllers have been forced to take one unpaid day off every 10 days, which created a domino effect of delays for domestic and international flights alike.

The money, to be shifted from existing capital improvement funds, is enough to pay the controllers full wages through September.

It would also allow the return of other essential Federal Aviation Authority workers, and let small airport towers remain open.

The House is expected to pass the measure today before the congressional recess begins next week.

The cuts were the FAA’s contribution to the wider, $85 billion federal budget slashes that went into effect last month.