Airlines for America, the trade group that represents most major domestic airlines, has asked the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to look into the imbalance created by private planes and commercial jets in terms of delays as well as the shortage in air traffic controllers.
A4A believes the combination has added up to delays at Christmas time.
The group asked the government agencies to “take all possible actions to find the appropriate balance between commercial and private aviation traffic with the goal of minimizing delays and cancellations for the traveling public.”
A4A in a letter also requested that “all possible steps be taken to avert additional staffing triggers, particularly in high volume centers.”
The FAA responded that airlines, general aviation and others “have a seat at the Command Center, where the FAA monitors the airspace 24/7 and gives updates every two hours.”
The shortage of air traffic controllers has been an issue for the last year with a number of near-misses on runways and in the air.
The FAA said “as air travel continues to rebound, the agency is taking immediate action to recruit, train and hire more air traffic controllers.” The FAA said that less than one percent of delays were caused by inadequate staffing. It did agree that there is a shortage, however.
The agency has been criticized for having air traffic controllers work 10-hour days or six days a week. DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg said this month the U.S. is on pace to have the lowest number of flight cancellations in five years.
The FAA in late December announced a panel to investigate the lack of air traffic controllers.
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