Shutdown chaos reignites debate over privatizing US air traffic control

By Fox News · Fox News

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history caused thousands of flights to get mired in delays just weeks before an anticipated highly traveled holiday season, reigniting debate over whether to privatize the U.S. air traffic control system, which proponents argue would shield the industry from future shutdown concerns. Calls to privatize air traffic control have lingered on the edges of aviation policy for decades, often flaring during outages or government shutdowns that lead to lengthy delays for travelers. Air traffic controllers in the U.S. are overwhelmingly employees of the goverment-run Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is charged with overseeing civil aviation safety, including airport operations and certifications for personnel and aircraft. Fox News Digital spoke with economist and Department of Transportation former assistant secretary for research and technology under the first Trump administration, Diana Furchtgott-Roth, who has long advocated for the privatization of the FAA's air traffic control system, telling Fox News Digital there are "no downsides to privatizing." "Privatization would enable more funds to flow into air traffic control," Furchtgott-Roth, who serves as director of the Center for Energy, Climate and Environment at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, told Fox News Digital. "Right now the (air traffic control system) depends on Congress for funds. The delays started because the air traffic controllers were not getting paid. If it were private, then payments would not be disrupted by shutdowns. Also, more money would flow in as more people used air travel, just as when more people want to eat out more restaurants open." AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ISSUE DESPERATE PLEA AS FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITHOUT PAYCHECKS Nations around the globe have privatized and corporatized versions of their own air traffic control systems — many of which are government-owned corporations or nonprofit entities that don't rely on taxpayer f…