FAA Launches Three-Year Plan To Hire Thousands Of Air Traffic Controllers
The Federal Aviation Administration unveiled a three-year plan on Friday, May 15, 2026, to hire thousands of air traffic controllers to bolster staffing and reduce burnout.[1]
The 2026-2028 Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan sets a target of 12,563 certified professional controllers, up from roughly 11,000 currently deployed.[1] The FAA plans to hire 2,200 controllers in fiscal 2026, 2,300 in fiscal 2027 and 2,400 in fiscal 2028 while modernizing scheduling and infrastructure.[1]
FAA leadership had warned the system was "chronically understaffed," prompting the agency to craft the new workforce plan.[1] The agency warned that overtime levels from fiscal 2023 through 2025 far exceeded reasonable use and contributed to fatigue and burnout among controllers.[1]
The FAA said the hiring push pairs with steps to modernize scheduling and infrastructure to ease workloads and cut excessive overtime.[1] Implementation will play out over fiscal 2026-2028, and airlines, controllers and labor groups will watch whether the new hires reduce delays and improve safety.
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📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, May 15, 2026, the FAA unveiled its 2026-2028 Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan.
- The plan sets a target of 12,563 certified professional controllers, up from roughly 11,000 currently deployed.
- FAA plans to hire 2,200 controllers in FY 2026, 2,300 in FY 2027, and 2,400 in FY 2028 while modernizing scheduling and infrastructure.
- The agency warned that overtime levels from FY 2023-2025 far exceeded reasonable use and contributed to fatigue and burnout.
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