Delta CEO says air traffic control systems are so outdated that some routes were faster in the 1950s

Key Points:

• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Delta CEO Ed Bastian highlighted the outdated nature of the U.S. air traffic control system, with equipment dating back to the 1960s, causing inefficiencies and longer flight times.
• Despite recent air traffic control failures, Bastian emphasized that flying remains the safest mode of transportation, though the antiquated technology is unacceptable for managing U.S. airspace.
• A bipartisan plan announced in May 2025 aims to modernize the air traffic control system by replacing old infrastructure with wireless, satellite, and GPS technologies at over 4,600 sites, including building new coordination centers and upgrading towers.
• Funding estimates for the modernization vary widely, with Transportation Secretary Duffy requesting $50 billion, while congressional and industry groups estimate costs between $12.5 billion and $31 billion or more.
• In the short term, airlines are reducing operations at congested airports like Newark to alleviate delays caused by air traffic control issues, though this is seen as a temporary and suboptimal solution.