US Airline Chiefs Back Trump's Plan for Overhauling Air Traffic Control

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (The News Pulse) – The heads of America’s top five carriers have announced their support for the Trump administration’s initiative to invest billions of dollars into modernizing the country’s outdated air traffic control infrastructure and increasing staffing levels, according to insiders.

The CEOs of Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue Airways are scheduled to speak at an event on Thursday where Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy plans to present his proposal to Congress. Representatives from additional airlines within the aviation sector will also be in attendance.

It is also anticipated that some relatives of the 67 individuals who lost their lives in the mid-air crash between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter on January 29 will be present. This incident occurred near Reagan National Airport.

Airlines and other entities might request an additional $30 billion or even higher in overall funding. However, Duffy isn’t anticipated to provide a precise number beyond the "tens of billions" mentioned earlier in March when stating how much the administration could require after further talks with legislators.

Key labor organizations for airline pilots, air traffic controllers, and flight attendants along with various aviation groups are participating in the event as well.

The congress is likewise contemplating an initial allocation of $12.5 billion as part of the legislation currently under review.

We’re planning to develop an entirely new air traffic control system, encompassing everything from advanced telecommunications to state-of-the-art radar systems along with all-new infrastructure,” Duffy stated earlier this week, anticipating that it could take between three to four years to complete.

The trade organization Airlines for America, which is set to participate in the event on Thursday, commended Duffy on Wednesday for his dedication to developing an enhanced air traffic control system.

Both Delta and United have verified that their CEOs will be present. According to a statement from a Delta representative, CEO Ed Bastian fully backs Duffy’s initiative and considers this “an unparalleled chance to tackle these long-standing issues.”

Duffy is calling for additional funds to accelerate the recruitment of air traffic controllers. In March, the FAA announced plans to hire 2,000 air traffic controller trainees this year. To achieve this, they plan to introduce new incentives and bonuses aimed at attracting new hires as well as persuading experienced controllers who are eligible for retirement to continue working.

Ongoing shortages of controllers have caused flight delays, with many now working compulsory overtime and six-day workweeks. The FAA currently lacks approximately 3,500 air traffic controllers compared to their desired staffing levels.

(Reported by David Shepardson; Edited by Chizu Nomiyama and Mark Potter)