Industry Insights

Aviation Industry Joins Calls for $30B to Complete the Nation’s Modern Skies Project

October 01, 2026

U.S. airlines joined Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (MO) and several aviation industry leaders at Reagan National Airport on September 28 to urge Congress to approve funding that ensures the job of modernizing America’s air traffic control system gets across the finish line. 

A second installment of funding—at $30 billion—would replace aging technology, modernize air traffic control facilities and help ensure the world’s busiest airspace remains safe and efficient for travelers, cargo shipments and communities across the country.

“I think the American people want the job completed. They want us to finish what we’ve started, and to finish what we start started, we need more money,” Duffy said.

The funding would be provided through the Modern Skies Act and invest the $30B among three categories: $10B for the Common Automation Platform software; $10B for improving outdated airport and ATC tower infrastructure; and $10B for building medium-sized airports across the country.

Airlines for America (A4A) President and CEO Chris Sununu called the project “exciting,” saying the remaining $30B is “absolutely” needed.

“The Secretary of Transportation and the FAA are working with folks in a bipartisan way, and they’re getting it done for a better result and a better product for folks all over this country.”

Sununu also said progress made with the first tranche of funding – such tackling numerous telecom and navigation projects at record speed – proves the FAA has “earned” additional funds from Congress. 

“When was the last time we’ve talked about a public infrastructure project in this country in the billions of dollars that was under budget, or on time, or as transparent,” Sununu said. “This is something where every American can say at least my dollar is going to something. They’re managing it well. It’s about the safety of my family, the efficiency of the system for the most robust airspace in the world.”

You can read more about the modernization work already done at https://modernskies.faa.gov/.