As the Austin airport sees a multi-billion expansion, officials worry tower staffing may not keep pace with growth\u2014posing risks to safety and the region\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n
Local near-miss incidents coupled with rising employee stress hint at an agency struggling to keep pace with demand, further revealing local delays are part of broader challenges across U.S. air traffic control.<\/p>\n
Some context<\/p>\n
Since late 2022, ABIA has seen six near-catastrophic events, per Federal Aviation Administration<\/a> incident data. Just last October, an American Airlines jet carrying 122 passengers and six crew members nearly collided with a single-engine Cessna plane\u2014coming within 350 feet of each other.<\/p>\n Several other close calls have occurred in recent years:<\/p>\n September 2023: A fast-moving F-18 fighter jet flew too close to a Cessna private jetJune 2023: An Allegiant jetliner\u2014 a larger passenger plane\u2014came within proximity of a smaller aircraftApril 2023: A SkyWest Airlines small passenger jet nearly crossed paths with a larger Southwest commercial planeFebruary 2023: Southwest passenger jet and a FedEx cargo plane nearly collided on an ABIA runwayNovember 2022: A near-collision occurred between too large commercial jets operated by Southwest and American AirlinesThe reason most often reported is a shortage in air traffic controller staffing. However, the reality includes a mix of tough working conditions, red tape and systemwide problems that go beyond a simple headcount, said Ashley Lane, a former ABIA air traffic controller of eight years, now a contracted instructor.<\/p>\n \u201c[Flying] is safe, but it\u2019s not as safe as it could be,\u201d Lane said.<\/p>\n “><\/p>\n A closer look<\/p>\n The tower at ABIA is one of the most understaffed in the nation, operating at only 45% of its target staffing level, according to U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett.<\/p>\n Doggett said the air traffic control tower is down to just 27 of the 60 needed controllers.<\/p>\n \u201cOver a year ago, the FAA administrator sat in my Washington office and stated that Austin\u2019s understaffing of air traffic controllers was \u2018as bad as it gets,\u2019\u201d Doggett said in a statement. \u201cDespite my continued efforts to seek action and answers, our situation [today] is worse. The number of air traffic controllers at the AUS control tower has decreased, not increased, as the tower struggles to keep staffing at even half the level recommended by the FAA.\u201d<\/p>\n Tower controllers are assigned to airports based on staffing needs and qualifications, rather than their preferred location, agency documents state. The FAA may offer incentives for controllers willing to work in low-staffed airports.<\/p>\n “><\/p>\n According to the FAA\u2019s Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan 2025-2028<\/a>, today\u2019s challenges are linked to the current hiring pipeline. The plan cites three major events that weakened its ability to train new controllers:<\/p>\n The March 2013 government sequester, which imposed federal spending cuts across many agencies including the FAAThe 35-day government shutdown beginning in December 2018, the longest in U.S. history, which left many agencies operating with limited staff or furloughed employeesThe COVID-19 pandemicThese disruptions contribute to staffing challenges that persist today, the report states, noting the high turnover rate for new trainees.<\/p>\n According to the workforce plan, \u201cacademy attrition\u201d is the single largest projected source of controller loss between 2024-28, accounting for 3,206 of the 6,872 total expected losses. More controllers are projected to be lost during training than from retirements, promotions and resignations combined.<\/p>\n The agency launched a hiring campaign in late 2024 bringing on 2,026 new controllers, with plans to hire 8,900 total by 2028. Yet with 6,872 departures anticipated over that time, the net gain results in just over 2,000 controllers.<\/p>\n The local lens<\/p>\n Lane said local controllers are not only managing Austin\u2019s busy airport traffic but are also responsible for the air traffic landing at surrounding satellite airports, like Austin Executive<\/a> in Pflugerville and Georgetown Executive Airport<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lane explained new trainees without prior radar experience are being thrown into a fast-paced environment with no time to learn the basics\u2014what she calls a \u201cfire hose\u201d situation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re doing the best with what we\u2019ve got,\u201d Lane said.<\/p>\n The FAA did not respond to a request for comment as of press time. Community Impact has been in contact with the FAA for several months, but the recent government shutdown has prevented responses after Oct. 1.<\/p>\n ABIA was among the first airports to deploy the FAA\u2019s new Surface Awareness Initiative in 2024, which gives air traffic controllers real-time, bird\u2019s-eye views of everything happening on the ground at the airport\u2019s runways, taxiways and other parts of the airfield\u2014a \u201cgame changer for air traffic control,\u201d according to a news release from ABIA.<\/p>\n However, controllers at major airports are often responsible for air traffic up to 50 miles away from the radar room.<\/p>\n “><\/p>\n Of note<\/p>\n Airport officials and Doggett, have urged the FAA to upgrade Austin\u2019s airspace from Class C to Class B, which was hoped to improve safety and lead to increased incentive pay for controllers. Class B, colloquially known as Bravo, is a stricter standard<\/a> used at major hubs like Chicago and Atlanta.<\/p>\n However, the FAA denied the request in June 2025\u2014a decision Lane said further hurt morale. Doggett has said the FAA has not responded to inquiries as to why the request was denied.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery time the FAA tells us they’re going to give us something to help, they don’t. It gets cancelled,\u201d Lane said. \u201cLike the Bravo\u2014everybody was excited about Bravo, and then they went back on it.\u201d<\/p>\n As Austin\u2019s airport expands, officials worry air traffic control staffing may not keep pace with growth\u2014posing risks to safety and the region\u2019s economy. Tower staffing falls under the FAA\u2019s authority; the city and airport have no control over this aspect of Austin airport operations.<\/p>\n \u201cThese staffing-related disruptions are now systemic, recurring with increasing frequency and intensity. … With record-setting passenger growth and a multi-billion-dollar expansion<\/a> underway, AUS cannot meet its operational or safety commitments without immediate staffing relief,\u201d ABIA CEO Ghizlane Badawi wrote in a letter<\/a> to FAA administrators.<\/p>\n Badawi said shortages have caused frequent delays, strained infrastructure and threatened ABIA\u2019s reliability as a major hub<\/a>. However, she expressed optimism following a recent $12 million federal investment for technology upgrades.<\/p>\n Nationally, the FAA announced plans earlier this year to offer short-term bonuses, speed up hiring and background checks, and expand training at its Oklahoma City academy.<\/p>\n The FAA has also expanded its training academy curriculum to several colleges across the nation, making air traffic controller training more accessible, according to a FAA spokesperson. Additionally, a fatigue mitigation plan was approved in July 2024, which introduced new rest requirements for air traffic controllers.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m really encouraged and hopeful that by the time we complete the infrastructure, five years from now, the FAA will have advanced air traffic [control] staffing,\u201d Badawi said.<\/p>\n Locally, council member Vanessa Fuentes is backing efforts to establish an Austin-based training academy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Keep in mind<\/p>\n Government shutdowns have led to increased staffing constraints and worsening conditions, according to recent U.S. Department of Transportation<\/a> announcements. Airports across the nation are seeing delays and even a complete shutdown of one air traffic control tower in Burbank, California.<\/p>\n The Austin airport has seen multiple ground delays over the past month, including after major city events like Formula 1<\/a>\u2014which saw the airport’s busiest day on record\u2014and Austin City Limits<\/a> music festival.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/communityimpact.com\/uploads\/images\/2025\/11\/06\/394179.jpg\")
The outlook<\/p>\n