FAA announces $1 billion investment in air traffic control system
The nation's air traffic control facilities will soon be getting a facelift.
The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday announced how it would allocate the initial $1 billion in funding for the air traffic control (ATC) system that was passed as part of last year's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As part of that, Congress passed $5 billion in total funding for air traffic control.
Many ATC facilities are aging. The nation's 22 air route traffic control centers, which handle high-altitude traffic during the en route phase of flight, were built in the 1960s and have had maintenance issues over the years. In addition, half of the FAA's air traffic control towers and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities — which control the airspace around the nation's busiest airports — are over 40 years old.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg saw that firsthand during a recent visit to the Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center in Leesburg, Virginia. He toured an area full of pipes that's directly above the control room floor where air traffic controllers guide aircraft and work with sensitive electronic equipment. Those pipes have leaked before, threatening to cause an ATC disruption that could have caused delays or cancellations to commercial flights.
"Air traffic control facilities are the nerve centers of our airspace system, and a big part of the reason why flying is the safest mode of transportation," Buttigieg said in a statement. "The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will repair, replace and modernize the infrastructure that our air traffic control system relies on to keep the traveling public safe for generations to come."
Among the improvements that the $1 billion will go to: reliability improvements for navigation, weather and tracking equipment, upgrades to power systems, infrastructure upgrades at the en route air route traffic control centers (like the one Buttigieg visited), towers and TRACONs, air traffic control tower replacement, environmental and safety upgrades and security upgrades. The funding will also be used to hire more technicians and engineers.
More: How pilots communicate with ATC while 35,000 feet in the air
Additionally, FAA Deputy Administrator A. Bradley Mims said that the agency will prioritize businesses owned by women and minorities for contracts awarded as part of this funding.
"There's a great deal of work needed to reduce the backlog of sustainment work, upgrades and replacement of buildings and equipment needed to operate our nation's airspace safely," Mims said in a statement. "We are going to make sure small and disadvantaged businesses owned by women and minorities have the chance to do this work so we can expand jobs and opportunities across the country."
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees