JetBlue CEO Calls For ATC And Outdated Tech Overhaul As Trump Prepares To Take Office

JetBlue CEO Joanna Geraghty has called on President-elect Donald Trump to address long-standing issues within the US air traffic control ( ATC) system, underscoring the need for urgent staffing improvements and modernization. In a television interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday, Geraghty highlighted the severe shortage of air traffic controllers, a problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and compounded by retirements. This issue has particularly affected airlines operating in the New York area, including JetBlue.

“I wish this administration would focus more on air traffic control,” Geraghty said. “That has definitely been a meaningful pressure for JetBlue and other airlines.”

Air traffic controller shortages

Geraghty underlined that the pandemic caused a backlog of air traffic controllers that is still putting stress on the aviation industry since it interfered with the employment and training of these professionals. In 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that the agency hired a record 1,811 controllers, the most in over 10 years, as part of its attempts to address the shortage, but Geraghty said the system is still under tremendous strain. In order to reduce delays in air traffic operations, she also emphasized the necessity of improved resource allocation, ongoing recruiting, and technology advancements.

Geraghty said in the interview:

“I’d love to see more hiring. I’d love to see more technology and ultimately improving the amount of the delays that come out of the air traffic control system in New York in particular, which is the hardest hit.”

However, Geraghty remains optimistic. She noted that, despite the ongoing challenges, the FAA is making progress in addressing the staffing shortage and investing in technological improvements. She has not yet met with members of the incoming administration but expressed hope that the new government would prioritize modernizing the nation’s air traffic control infrastructure.

GAO audit reveals FAA’s struggling systems

The call for reform comes at a time when the FAA is under increasing scrutiny. On December 12, 2024, the General Accounting Office (GAO) published a fresh audit that challenges the agency’s present capabilities. According to the GAO’s conclusions, the safety and effectiveness of air travel in the United States are in danger because many of the FAA’s fundamental systems are still antiquated and unsustainable. The audit found that 17 of the FAA’s 131 systems are very problematic, and 51 of them are deemed unsustainable. If not fixed soon, these systems—many of which are essential to communication and aviation safety—run the risk of failing.

Among the most pressing issues highlighted in the audit is the aging infrastructure of the ATC system, including the reliance on legacy technologies such as copper wiring for data transmission. Skies Magazine reported among other issues, the GAO pointed out that the FAA has no plans to upgrade any of its systems, including three that are 30 years old, and has not planned to modify several of them for at least ten years.

Among these is the Notice Air Missions ( notams) system, which gives aircrews on over 50,000 flights daily real-time weather, traffic, and safety information. In January 2023, issues led to a two-hour suspension of all leaving aircraft, which caused approximately 10,000 flights to be delayed and over 1,300 flights to be canceled.

The FAA has 64 ongoing investments aimed at modernizing outdated systems, but as the GAO notes, these efforts have been slow-moving and inconsistent. Of particular concern is the agency’s failure to prioritize the replacement of the most critical systems, which could pose risks to air traffic safety if not addressed soon.

Industry concerns

Industry leaders, including Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have also expressed concern over the FAA’s slow progress. Ambrosi told Skies Magazine that pilots and air traffic controllers are often forced to rely on outdated equipment, undermining the potential of newer technologies designed to improve flight safety.

“The capabilities that have been implemented with NextGen have increased situational awareness and provided tools to help pilots make safe decisions through performance-based navigation, data, communication and ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast),” he noted.