Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Advocates for Increased Efficiency in Airspace Management

Washington — In the wake of numerous flight delays and cancellations leading up to the Fourth of July holiday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the issues and assured that steps are being taken to resolve them.

Buttigieg acknowledged that recent severe weather in major travel hubs had “put enormous pressure on the system,” prompting United Airlines and JetBlue to question the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the disruptions. The airlines wondered why there were significant delays, considering that the FAA has effectively managed weather disruptions in the past.

“While passengers understand that no one can control the weather, we need to ensure that airlines and the FAA do everything within their control to provide the smoothest travel experience for air passengers,” Buttigieg stated during an interview on “Face the Nation” on Sunday.

The FAA has been facing challenges in fulfilling its responsibilities due to staffing issues. A government audit report released last month pointed out that the FAA lacks a plan to address the shortage of air traffic controllers, potentially disrupting summer travel.

Buttigieg revealed that the FAA plans to hire 1,500 new air traffic controllers this year and an additional 1,800 by 2024. They are also working on staffing models to better address the issues. However, Buttigieg emphasized that staffing problems account for less than 10% of flight delays, expressing his desire to reduce this number to zero.

He added, “While staffing may not be the primary cause of disruptions, it is still an issue that we are actively tackling. We can implement more efficient management strategies to minimize the impact.”

As part of their efforts, the FAA is adopting new technologies to establish more direct flight routes, reducing flight time and congestion.

Buttigieg also attributed flight delays to commercial space launches in Florida. He stated that they have been in communication with the space industry to coordinate launch schedules and avoid peak traffic periods.