US airline chiefs urge Congress to accelerate ATC funding push
May 25, 2025
America’s leading airline CEOs have issued a direct appeal to US lawmakers, calling for urgent action to modernise the country’s air traffic control infrastructure ahead of the peak summer travel season.
In a coordinated effort to raise pressure on Capitol Hill, Airlines for America (A4A) published a full-page open letter in the Washington Post, signed by the chief executives of all nine member airlines along with A4A President and CEO Nick Calio.
The message calls on Congress to back a significant financial boost to upgrade the nation’s ageing air traffic control systems.
The timing of the letter coincides with discussions in the US House of Representatives over a reconciliation bill that currently earmarks $12.5 billion for ATC improvements.
“As Americans prepare for Memorial Day Weekend getaways and look toward the busy summer travel season, and amid an increased reliance on daily cargo shipments, we are writing to ask Congress to take bold action and rebuild America’s aging air traffic control (ATC) system…Now, it’s time for Congress to do its part and provide much-needed resources and turn the plan into reality,” the CEOs said.
The aviation sector is expecting record travel volumes this summer, intensifying the need for a more robust and reliable ATC.
While industry leaders have welcomed the inclusion of funding in the House bill, they argue that rapid and sustained investment is essential to meet growing demand.
