Next week, the Senate is expected to vote on a bill to address a shortage of air traffic controllers and reduce risks on runways.
It would give money to the Federal Aviation Administration to help fill hundreds of air traffic control jobs and would force the airline industry to make big changes that could positively impact passengers.
Lawmakers are hoping to pass an FAA reauthorization deal by May 10, when the current temporary law expires.
“Both parties have every reason in the world to get FAA done as quickly as possible,” said majority leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, New York (D). “To keep our skies safe, our airports safe, our federal employees taken care of”
The bill would authorize more than $105 billion to the FAA and $738 million to the National Transportation Safety Board to address the nation’s shortage of air traffic controllers and implement technology to reduce the risk of runway collisions, among other measures.
In the last year there have been a handful of incidents where planes nearly collided on runways at major airports across the country. Last month at Reagan International Airport, a JetBlue plane and Southwest Airlines plane stopped about 400 feet apart.
Part of the issue stems from a massive shortage of air traffic controllers. Last year, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigeig said the FAA was about 3,000 air traffic controllers short of their target goals. At a recent press conference, the head of the FAA said they hired 1,500 new people last year but acknowledged more needs to be done.
“We have been doing everything in our power to increase controller hiring,” said FAA administrator Mike Whitaker.
The bill would also force the airline industry to make flying more comfortable and dependable for passengers. Such as mandating reviews of airline seat sizes, setting a standard for travel credits, and codifying airline refunds.