US Air Traffic Controllers to Receive 2.8% Pay Rise Under Workforce Reforms

US air traffic controllers will receive a 2.8 percent pay increase from October 18 under an agreement linking higher compensation to changes in staffing, attendance tracking and workforce allocation, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.

The increase, negotiated by the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), will be retroactive to the beginning of 2026, according to the US Transportation Department.

The agreement follows a congressional directive under the Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act of 2026 requiring the FAA to tie the pay rise to measurable improvements in operational efficiency.

The reforms will introduce attendance tracking at air traffic facilities, new guidelines for scheduling shifts according to forecast workloads and operational requirements, and changes to the reassignment of controllers to facilities experiencing the most severe staffing shortages.

Under the new attendance system, controllers will be required to record when they arrive at and leave their workplaces, giving managers additional information to monitor staffing, training and safety requirements.

Local managers and union representatives will also develop shift guidelines designed to align staffing with expected traffic volumes and ensure adequate coverage during peak periods.

The reassignment changes are intended to direct controllers towards facilities with the greatest staffing needs. Previous changes to the process had resulted in more controllers transferring to locations with relatively limited shortages, according to the Transportation Department.

US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the changes were intended to modernise air traffic operations, improve staffing practices and make better use of the existing workforce.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said improved tracking, scheduling and personnel allocation would help the agency respond more effectively to operational demands.

NATCA President Nick Daniels said fair compensation and improved working conditions were essential to maintaining an experienced air traffic controller workforce.

Source: FSX Business News