Air Traffic Controllers to Get 2.8% Pay Raise
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) have reached a deal to provide air traffic controllers with a 2.8% pay increase following key workforce reforms. The pay increase takes effect Oct. 18 and is retroactive to the beginning of the year.
In the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act of 2026, Congress directed to FAA to tie a pay increase to measurable improvements in operational efficiency.
Improvements include:
- Timecard Tracking: Most federal employees are required to “badge in” and “badge out” at their place of work. This approach will now be applied to air traffic facilities to ensure managers have the data they need to better track training and safety needs.
- Align Staffing with Demand: Local managers and union representatives will develop shift guidelines based on forecasted workload and operational requirements. This will ensure more productive controller schedules that maximize coverage during peak traffic hours.
- Improved Reassignment Process: Controller reassignments will now focus on where the staffing needs are the most severe. Past changes to the controller reassignment process resulted in significantly more controllers transferring to locations with minimal shortages.
Together, these changes will improve controller quality of life, strengthen coordination between managers and frontline employees, make better use of the FAA’s existing workforce, and improve operational efficiency to keep America’s skies safe.
“President Trump has made clear that we must modernize our skies and deliver results for the flying public,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “That means taking a hard look at how we operate, fixing outdated staffing practices, and growing our air traffic control workforce. We are making these changes to better support the men and women who keep our skies safe, get controllers where they are needed most, and improve how we utilize the airspace. I appreciate the collaboration with NATCA and the thousands of hard-working controllers they represent to reach this deal so we can build a stronger system for the future.”
“Air traffic controllers perform critical work every day to keep the National Airspace System safe,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “By improving how we track work, schedule shifts and allocate personnel, we can make better use of our workforce and respond more effectively to operational demands. Our work with NATCA is helping us put practical changes in place that support our controllers and improve the way the system operates.”
“This increase reflects the vital role these dedicated professionals play in keeping our nation’s skies safe and efficient,” said NATCA President Nick Daniels. “Fair compensation and better working conditions are essential to sustaining a strong, experienced air traffic controller workforce.”
The FAA announced earlier this month it has exceeded its Fiscal Year 2026 hiring goal, adding 2,235 air traffic controller trainees, the most in FAA history. This record follows the highly successful gamer campaign that recruited more than 12,000 qualified Americans to apply in just 24 hours.
“Meeting this year’s hiring goal is an important milestone, but it’s not the finish line,” said FAA Administrator Bedford. “We are focused on continuing to bring the best and the brightest people into the profession, giving them the training and tools they need to succeed, and building a stronger, more resilient air traffic control workforce. Every new controller represents an investment in the future of the National Airspace System.”
DOT Secretary Duffy says the agency is on track to hire at least 8,900 new air traffic controller trainees through 2028, strengthening the workforce responsible for safely managing the world’s busiest and most complex airspace. The FAA expanded onsite Academy training, with June seeing the highest number of air traffic academy students in FAA’s history. More than 1,300 trainees have successfully graduated from the academy already this fiscal year.
