A growing shortage of federal air traffic controllers has been “a factor” in at least one-third of recent flight cancellations as the busy Fourth of July weekend approaches, the airline industry reported Friday.
Airlines for America, a nonprofit group that represents the nation’s 10 major passenger and cargo air carriers, made the claim in a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, shared with The Washington Times.
The group’s CEO, Nicholas Calio, who met virtually with Mr. Buttigieg and airline chiefs a week ago, wrote that the Federal Aviation Administration has not shared its staffing plan for air traffic controllers during the busy July 4 weekend with the nation’s air carriers, even though the Transportation Security Administration has done so for bag handlers.