Dive summary:

• Air travelers were pleased when Congress, whose members were about to take to the skies themselves for a recess, decided the budget sequester could be met by moving money around at the Federal Aviation Administration, but construction pays the $253 million price.
• The Airport Improvement Program (AIP) had been exempt from the spending reductions because its grants come out of a trust fund, not money that Congress appropriates.
• The legislation that passed the Senate and then the House as members were heading home allows money to be moved from uncommitted improvement funds to personnel costs.

From the article:

The rapid, bipartisan congressional action was sparked when FAA furloughs started on April 21 and flight delays rose at U.S. airports. ...