Senator Rockefeller said “by plugging a hole in the budget and providing the FAA with crucial funds to operate the air traffic control system, we will eliminate flight delays due to inadequate staffing and keep America moving. This does not fix all of the problems the FAA faces because of budget cuts, especially for contract towers in rural communities. And it does nothing for other essential government operations and employees that also desperately need relief. But it's a start, and I'm committed to keep working on more solutions.” 

Senator Collins said “the challenges the FAA faces this fiscal year are daunting not only is the agency operating under a continuing resolution but sequestration compounds the problem. It’s unfortunate that these irresponsible cuts led to widespread delays to the air transportation system.” 

The U.S. Travel Association applauded the swift action and passage of bipartisanship legislation in the Senate and House to end sequester-induced Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) furloughs that are causing flight delays nationwide, but noted its concern in regards to the potential funding source which would direct funds from needed airport infrastructure projects. 

The legislation passed will eliminates air traffic employee furloughs through the end of September. However, while this legislation averts the short-term crisis there are other issues at hand such as funding source for the FAA after September and concerns with the provisions in the bill that allow airport infrastructure funds to be transferred to air traffic control services as U.S. airport infrastructure is approaching a dire state. 

At a time when we should be modernizing our infrastructure to improve efficiency, capacity and U.S. global competitiveness, sequestration related issues should not be solved on the backs of airports. It is crucial that the Department of Transportation do everything in its power to find appropriate savings to fund air traffic controllers and avoid transferring funds away from critical airport infrastructure. 

Capt. Lee Moak, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) commending the swift passage of the Reducing Flight Delays Act, which gives the U.S. Secretary of Transportation the ability to transfer funds within the Federal Aviation Administration’s budget to prevent furloughs of essential employees, including air traffic controllers. 

“Today’s U.S. House vote, together with the approval by the U.S. Senate last night, marks critical progress in getting this country’s air transportation system back to full staffing and giving the nation’s airline industry the opportunity to realize peak efficiency while achieving the highest standards of safety. 

“Airline passengers and air cargo shippers, along with pilots, other airline industry employees, and the communities we serve, will all benefit from this bipartisan solution. We urge the Administration to act with all possible haste to ensure that the U.S. air transportation system is positioned to succeed in delivering the highest standards of safety and efficiency.” 

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association stated “After just one week of furloughs, it is abundantly clear that a fully staffed air traffic control workforce is necessary for our national airspace system to operate at full capacity. The nation’s air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals take great pride in their work and want nothing more than to be in their towers and radar facilities, working each and every flight. 

“Thanks to the action taken this week in Congress, they will be able to return to work full time. We applaud the bipartisan nature of the votes and look forward to working closely with the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure the newly granted flexibility is exercised in a way that maintains our national airspace system’s status as the safest and most efficient in the world”.