The U.S. Air Traffic Control (ATC) system, once a symbol of aviation excellence, is now facing a crisis marked by staffing shortages, outdated technology, and operational chaos.
Recent disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport have spotlighted these systemic issues, raising concerns about the ability of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure safe and efficient air travel.
Brace yourself — the delays, cancellations, and safety issues recently plaguing Newark Airport are already hitting airports across the U.S. The ATC crisis weighs on passenger confidence, which in turn dampens air traffic and generates headwinds for aircraft base values and lease rates.
It’s been a dangerous year so far for air travelers. As of early June 2025, there have been nine significant fatal accidents involving civilian and military aircraft. The five-year average (2020-2024) for fatal commercial accidents is five per year.
In recent months, a series of aviation mishaps in the U.S. has deepened public unease and reignited concerns about flight safety. The most recent scare occurred at Toronto Pearson Airport, where a Delta Air Lines jet flipped over during a landing attempt in severe winds. Miraculously, everyone on board survived.
Tragically, that close call followed a far more catastrophic event just days earlier: a mid-air collision over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., where a Black Hawk helicopter slammed into an American Airlines passenger jet. The crash claimed the lives of 64 passengers and three crew members.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently warned that “antiquated systems” at many major airports nationwide are overdue for a multibillion-dollar upgrade.
Duffy recently told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he intends to reduce the number of flights at Newark airport over the “next several weeks.”
“What you see in Newark is going to happen in other places across the country,” Duffy said. “It has to be fixed.”
The stakes are huge. According to the latest data from the Business Research Company, the global ATC market is projected to grow from $9.55 billion in 2025 to $12.37 billion in 2029.
Growth during this time frame will be driven by modernization initiatives, air traffic growth, safety enhancements, cost optimization, and avionics retrofits.
Is there a shortage of air traffic controllers? Absolutely. The FAA controls 290 air traffic control facilities, and currently, almost half were understaffed. In fact, 128 of them didn’t meet the FAA’s own 85% staffing goal for terminal facilities set that year.
In early May, Newark Liberty International Airport experienced significant operational disruptions. On one occasion, only three air traffic controllers were on duty instead of the required 14, leading to flight delays of up to seven hours. This staffing shortfall was compounded by three communication blackouts that temporarily prevented the control tower from monitoring aircraft.
The FAA’s decision to shift Newark’s airspace oversight to Philadelphia also has led to system connectivity problems and reduced staffing due to trauma-related leave. To maintain safety, the FAA has required airlines to scale back flights, and United Airlines has already cut 35 daily roundtrips at the airport.
Transportation Secretary Duffy pledged initiatives including raises, bonuses, faster hiring, and infrastructure upgrades, but warned the issue is long-term due to the 1-3 years required to train new hires. With an average salary of $160,000, controller roles require no college degree, though applicants must pass numerous rigorous tests and be under 31 years old, unless they already have experience.
The shortage extends beyond controllers. The nation has more than 4,800 systems specialists who install, operate, maintain, and repair the nation’s more than 74,00radar, communications, navigational aids, computer automation, airport lighting, and other important infrastructure systems.
The number of systems specialists has declined for several years and is getting worse as more specialists are retiring every year. Insufficient systems specialist staffing not only leads to prolonged restoration times and increased air traffic delays during outages but also poses challenges in ensuring adequate shift coverage.
The FAA’s reliance on aging technology has been a longstanding issue. The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), initiated in 2007, aims to modernize the National Airspace System by 2030. However, progress has been slow, and many legacy systems remain in operation.
A 2024 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that 51 of the FAA’s 138 air traffic control systems are “unsustainable” and in urgent need of modernization. Some systems are over 30 years old and lack modernization plans, posing significant risks to air travel safety and efficiency.
The FAA’s modernization efforts have also faced challenges. The agency has been slow to modernize the most critical and at-risk systems.
Specifically, when considering age, sustainability ratings, operational impact level, and expected date of modernization for each system, as of June 2025, the FAA had 17 systems that were especially concerning. The investments intended to modernize these systems were not planned to be completed for at least six years. In some cases, they were not to be completed for at least 10 years.
The U.S. ATC system is at a critical juncture. While the FAA has initiated several modernization efforts, progress has been slow, and significant risks remain.
Editor’s Note: This article is a condensed transcript of the video. For additional details, including several charts, watch the video.
