Senators in the United States have voted in favour of legislation temporarily renewing funding for the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).

The deal potentially averts a shutdown of investment programmes across the US, with thousands of jobs safeguarded.

The house of representatives voted in favour of the bill earlier.

The Senate subsequently approved the bill 92-6.

The legislation conveys legal authority for the government to extend the FAA programmes until January.

The stopgap action also allows the government to continue collecting related airline ticket and auto fuel taxes to fund the trust accounts that pay for infrastructure improvements and are under financial pressure.

Congress has struggled in recent years to craft a long-term aviation funding bill, requiring a string of temporary renewals to keep the programme operating.