Airlines for America backs Secretary Duffy’s push to recruit and train air traffic controllers

Airlines for America has publicly announced its support for Secretary Sean Duffy's leadership in recruiting and training more air traffic controllers, a move aimed at maintaining aviation safety. The announcement was made on the social media platform X.

According to The Washington Post, the United States is currently facing a shortage of air traffic controllers, which has led to widespread delays and flight disruptions, especially at major hubs such as New York, Atlanta, and Dallas. The report indicates that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has struggled to replenish its workforce due to retirements, training bottlenecks, and budgetary pressures. Airlines for America's endorsement of Secretary Duffy’s recruitment initiatives highlights the importance of workforce stability in ensuring safety and reliability across the U.S. aviation system.

A study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveals that the FAA employed approximately 10,578 fully certified air traffic controllers in 2022, a number below the optimal target needed to meet national demand. The GAO also pointed out that about 20 percent of the workforce relied on mandatory overtime, raising concerns over controller fatigue and operational risks. Duffy's initiative aims to address these issues by accelerating recruitment and training processes.