- Delta CEO Ed Bastian said air traffic control systems in the U.S. are so antiquated it actually takes longer to fly certain routes today than it did in the 1950s. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy even compared the old equipment to something you’d see on the set of Apollo 13. Duffy and President Donald Trump this year unveiled a plan to update the air traffic control system in the U.S.
Earlier this year, chronic flight delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport revealed a litany of problems with antiquated air traffic control systems. Today, those problems persist and are even more illuminated thanks to the government shutdown. For one, the Hollywood Burbank Airport air traffic control tower was left unmanned for hours this week due to the shutdown. CNN also reported Tuesday 12 Federal Aviation Administration facilities had staffing shortages Monday night.
