Roughly two-thirds of United’s 2024 delays caused by ATC issues

United Airlines struggled significantly with air traffic control (ATC)-related delays at its congested airport hubs last year as the Federal Aviation Administration still lacks sufficient staffing, particularly in the Northeast USA. ”Staffing at the FAA remains a challenge for the airline industry and most importantly the travelling public,” says Brett Hart, United’s president. ”In 2024, even on clear, blue-sky days, 66% of United’s delays were driven by ATC challenges in technology and staffing.” US lawmakers have recently renewed focus on addressing ageing ATC technology and understaffing, problems that have plagued the FAA for years. That includes a renewed push to potentially decouple the country’s ATC system from the FAA, which may gain steam under Donald Trump’s second presidential term. Trump proposed in 2017 removing ATC from the FAA and putting it under a new non-profit entity. The concept has faced opposition by Democratic lawmakers as well as some aviation groups, and received support from prominent airline industry advocacy group Airlines for America. “We remain engaged with leaders in Washington in both parties to get the FAA resources they need,” Hart says, “and we’ll look for opportunities to work with the new Congress and new administration to achieve that goal.”<br/>