Southwest Airlines CEO: 'The U.S. economy depends on a safe, efficient, and reliable air transportation system'

Airlines for America (A4A) President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio testified before the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee, urging immediate action on air traffic control staffing, infrastructure, and funding. He emphasized the need for an emergency funding package to address staffing shortages, modernize outdated technology, and improve NAS efficiency. Calio warned that without these investments, flight delays, cancellations, and safety risks could worsen. He called on lawmakers to prioritize aviation system improvements to accommodate increasing passenger demand. A4A remains committed to collaborating with policymakers to ensure a more reliable and resilient air transportation network.

On February 27, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy issued a press release unveiling a plan to expedite air traffic controller hiring at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. The initiative is designed to address staffing shortages by expanding recruitment efforts and streamlining the hiring process. Duffy emphasized the critical need to increase the controller workforce for safer and more efficient air travel. This announcement follows growing concerns about air traffic management capacity and modernization needs in the air traffic control system.

According to a March 21 report by Reuters, Secretary Duffy has outlined a comprehensive proposal to overhaul the U.S. air traffic control system. The plan calls for "tens of billions of dollars" in funding from Congress to modernize FAA infrastructure, including new radar systems, air traffic control terminals, and runway safety technology installations. The initiative seeks to replace outdated technologies with modern systems such as fiber optics, wireless communication, and satellite technology to enhance NAS efficiency and safety.

Bob Jordan serves as President, CEO, and Vice Chairman of Southwest Airlines' Board. With 36 years at Southwest Airlines starting as a technology programmer, he has held 15 leadership roles across various departments. Under his leadership, Southwest has expanded from a regional carrier into one of the nation's largest airlines.