WASHINGTON, May 23, 2017 – Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today commended the Trump Administration for its strategic vision in outlining a plan toward achieving 21st century air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure in the 2018 budget proposal.

Specifically, the 2018 budget would shift the ATC service provider function within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to an independent, non-governmental organization beginning in 2021.

“The President’s leadership on air traffic control reform will ultimately reduce federal spending, shrink the size of the federal government and reduce taxes for passengers,” said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. “By prioritizing ATC reform in his budget, the President has taken a bold step that will lead to benefits for decades to come and maintain our role as the global leader in aviation.”

More than 50 other nations have reformed their air traffic systems to separate the service provider from the safety regulator. The results include increased efficiencies and enhanced safety. Under the proposal, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would continue to oversee all safety regulations.

Separating the ATC service provider from the FAA will free the system from the government bureaucracy that has stood in the way of modernizing the infrastructure that manages the tens of thousands of flights each day that use the U.S. airspace. Moving our nation’s ATC system into the 21st century would deliver a host of benefits – including shorter flights, fewer emissions and fewer delays – all great news for the 2.2 million passengers that rely on the system each day.