WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - A U.S. House of

Representatives committee on Thursday voted unanimously to

approve legislation aiming to prevent aviation disruptions

during government shutdowns by ensuring air traffic controllers

and other key workers are paid.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also

approved a separate bill that would require the Federal Aviation

Administration to approve supersonic jet transport by April 2027

if certain conditions are met.

Major airlines strongly backed the air traffic control pay

legislation, noting last month that the 43-day U.S. government

shutdown and government-imposed flight cuts disrupted 6 million

passengers and 50,000 flights because of rising air traffic

controller absences.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington)