The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced a plan to "supercharge" the hiring of new air traffic controllers to address staffing shortages. Geoff Freeman, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, praised the initiative, stating, "Secretary Duffy's leadership and decisive action to improve the hiring and training of air traffic controllers will address a long-standing need. These actions will accelerate the creation of the world-class aviation experience that travelers expect, demand, and deserve."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will increase pay for students at its air traffic control academy by 30% and streamline the hiring process, reducing the current eight-step process to five steps. This change aims to cut hiring time by more than four months.

The hiring window for new air traffic controllers will be open from February 27 to March 17. Once trainees complete the FAA Academy, they will be assigned to air traffic control facilities across the country to gain hands-on experience toward certification.

Staffing shortages have been a concern for over a decade, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). Currently, more than 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, with approximately 10,800 controllers in service—about 3,600 fewer than needed for full operation.

The shortage has been exacerbated by stringent training requirements and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed training and increased certification times. The DOT's new plan aims to reverse these trends by attracting and retaining new talent to stabilize the National Airspace System.