USCTA Alert

November 21, 2025

The FAA is planning to provide funding to increase air traffic controller staffing at sixteen contract towers by the middle of next year. The move is in response to a requirement in the FAA reauthorization bill, and it comes at a time when Congress, the administration, and aviation stakeholders are focused on enhancing controller staffing at contract towers and FAA facilities.
 
FAA Reauthorization: The FAA reauthorization bill, which was enacted into law on May 16, 2024, includes a provision (Section 625) that requires the FAA to “provide funding sufficient for the cost of wages and benefits of at least 2 air traffic controllers for each tower operating shift” at small and medium hub airports. The bill requires the agency to coordinate with airports and implement this provision within eighteen months of enactment.
 
FAA Action: To meet that statutory requirement, the FAA intends to support a minimum of two controllers per operating shift at the small hub airports listed below. The agency plans to begin implementing this change at most eligible airports around July 1, 2026. However, the target implementation date for one airport on the list will be February 1, 2026.
 
It is our understanding that the FAA’s implementation of the minimum two-controller per shift requirement will yield approximately 40 additional controller positions at contract towers around the country. The FAA plans to provide more information to each airport on the list below sometime next week.
 
Contract Towers Eligible for Minimum of Two Controllers Per Shift

• Phoenix Mesa-Gateway Airport (AZ)
• Northwest Arkansas National Airport (AR)
• Tweed New Haven Airport (CT)
• Key West International Airport (FL)
• Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (FL)
• Punta Gorda Airport (FL)
• Kona International Airport (HI)
• Lihue Airport (HI)
• Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (MT)
• Rouge Valley International-Medford Airport (OR)
• Roberts Field Redmond Municipal Airport (OR)
• Harlingen Airport (TX)
• McAllen International Airport (TX)
• Appleton Airport (WI)
• Jackson Hole Airport (WY)
• A.B. Won Pat International Airport (Guam)

Wages for Controllers and Tower Managers: Section 611 of the FAA reauthorization bill includes another USCTA-backed provision that requires DOT to work with the Department of Labor to review and update wages for contract tower controllers. Specifically, the legislation requires DOT to request that DOL review and update, if necessary, the wage determination for contract tower controllers. It also calls for a new wage determination for contract tower managers. It is our understanding that the DOT has submitted the required request to DOL.
 
The FAA bill also requires DOT to issue a report to Congress by May 16, 2026. However, considering the ongoing staffing challenges at contract towers, we are continuing to urge DOT, the FAA, and DOL to expedite this review and submit the required report to Congress as soon as possible.