Morning Wire The Overhaul That Could Transform U.S. Air Travel
10 snips
Dec 21, 2025 
Chris Sununu, President and CEO of Airlines for America and former Governor of New Hampshire, dives into the FAA's historic $12 billion overhaul of air traffic control. He highlights how outdated technology has strained the system and shares insights on tackling the air traffic controller shortage. Sununu reveals plans for modernizing tech, with anticipated quick wins like fiber replacements. He also discusses airport enhancements aimed at improving traveler experience and how airfares have surprisingly risen less than inflation since 2019.
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Major Modernization Of Air Traffic Control
- The FAA is replacing decades-old air traffic control tech like floppy-disk-era systems with modern networking and equipment.
- Chris Sununu says this $12B modernization will speed operations and improve resilience across the national airspace.
Logistics During The Shutdown
- During the government shutdown airlines juggled crews and planes to keep passengers moving with few early cancellations.
- Sununu describes a logistical
Speed Up Controller Certification
- Reduce training bottlenecks and speed certification to address controller shortages.
- Chris Sununu urges breaking down bureaucracy so new controllers enter towers faster and the system stays resilient.