Privatize Air Traffic Control

Privatize Air Traffic Control: A Win for Safety and Taxpayers

Every year, American taxpayers pour billions of dollars into a federal bureaucracy that struggles to keep up with the demands of modern aviation. Our air traffic controllers—among the most skilled professionals in the country—are stuck working within an outdated, government-run system. Meanwhile, delays, inefficiencies, and rising costs fall squarely on the shoulders of both taxpayers and travelers. It is time for the United States to follow the lead of other nations and privatize air traffic control.

Privatization would not only modernize the skies but also deliver major savings to taxpayers, improve efficiency, and free air traffic control from the dysfunction of Washington politics. The status quo is broken, and continuing to fund it with taxpayer dollars is no longer justifiable.

Taxpayer Burden Under the Current System

Today, the FAA’s air traffic control system is funded largely through a mix of aviation taxes and general taxpayer dollars. That means Americans who never set foot on an airplane still end up subsidizing a massive federal operation. Even worse, Congress routinely diverts aviation taxes to unrelated programs, while air traffic upgrades get caught in budget fights. Government shutdowns have repeatedly brought training and modernization to a halt, forcing taxpayers to pay more while getting less.

By shifting air traffic control to a private, nonprofit corporation—funded directly by user fees from the airlines that benefit from the service—taxpayers would be off the hook. No longer would a family that drives cross-country in a minivan pay taxes to subsidize airline operations. Instead, the system would be paid for by those who use it most. That alone represents billions in potential taxpayer savings every year.

Lessons from Abroad: Lower Costs, Better Service

Canada provides the clearest example of what the U.S. stands to gain. In 1996, Canada spun off its air traffic control system into NAV CANADA, a private, nonprofit corporation. The results have been stunning. Safety has remained world-class, technology upgrades have been rolled out faster and cheaper than in the U.S., and—most importantly—Canada’s taxpayers are no longer on the hook. The system funds itself through user fees, not government taxes.

The U.S. airspace is larger and more complex, but the principle holds true: privatization reduces costs to taxpayers and places the burden where it belongs—on the users of the system, not the general public.

Eliminating Waste and Political Gridlock

Government bureaucracy is slow, expensive, and vulnerable to political dysfunction. Consider the FAA’s much-delayed NextGen modernization project. Billions of taxpayer dollars have already been spent, with timelines stretched out for decades and little to show for it. If air traffic control were run as a private company, technology upgrades would not be subject to congressional squabbling or federal red tape. Instead, investment decisions could be made quickly, with a focus on efficiency and innovation.

The private sector, operating on stable revenue from user fees, has every incentive to keep costs down while improving performance. Unlike federal agencies, which survive regardless of efficiency, a privatized air traffic control corporation would have to deliver value to remain viable. That means fewer tax dollars wasted, more accountability, and a leaner, more responsive system.

Protecting Safety While Saving Money

Opponents of privatization often claim that safety would be compromised. The evidence says otherwise. In Canada, safety records remain impeccable. In fact, because privatization allowed faster adoption of modern tracking and communication systems, many argue that Canadian skies are safer than America’s. Privatization separates the roles of regulator and operator: the FAA would continue to set and enforce safety standards, while the new private company would focus on managing traffic efficiently.

In short, safety oversight would remain in government hands, but the costly and inefficient day-to-day operations would no longer drain taxpayer resources.

Fairness and Taxpayer Relief

It is simply unfair that ordinary taxpayers, many of whom cannot afford to fly, are subsidizing airlines and frequent fliers. Privatization would fix that. By funding air traffic control directly through airline and pilot fees, those who use the system most would finally pay their fair share. For the general taxpayer, this would mean billions saved over time.

Critics worry about higher costs being passed on to passengers. But the truth is, travelers already pay hidden costs in the form of delays, cancellations, and wasted tax dollars. A modern, efficient, privatized system would reduce those costs in the long run—making flying not only safer but also faster and more predictable.

Conclusion: A Smarter Path Forward

The United States cannot afford to let air traffic control remain stuck in a bloated, taxpayer-funded bureaucracy. Privatization offers a proven path to savings, efficiency, and modernization without compromising safety. Taxpayers deserve relief, and our skies deserve a system that works.

It is time to take the burden off the public and put it where it belongs—on the airlines, the passengers, and the private sector. Privatizing air traffic control is not just good policy; it is common sense.