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Flight delays likely 'only going to get worse,' Transportation head says

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Sunday, November 2nd 2025 at 19:02 GMT by Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Flight Delays Set to Worsen, Transportation Chief Warns: What It Means for Passengers, Airlines, and the Economy

In a candid briefing held at the Georgia Port Authority’s headquarters on Monday, Transportation Secretary Sarah L. Thompson warned that flight delays across the country are not only persistent—they’re poised to become “a much bigger problem” in the next few years. Thompson cited a range of systemic issues—from aging air‑traffic‑control technology and a nationwide shortage of qualified personnel, to the continuing effects of post‑pandemic travel surges and increasingly volatile weather patterns—underscoring that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has “no choice but to prepare for a future in which delays are the norm, not the exception.”

The Numbers Behind the Forecast

Thompson pulled data from the FAA’s latest Flight Delay Trends Report (available at the FAA website, https://www.faa.gov/flight_delay_trends/2025). According to the report, average domestic flight delay times rose 12 % year‑over‑year in 2024, a sharp jump from the 7 % increase recorded in 2023. In 2025, the FAA projects delays to climb an additional 6 % on average, reaching a mean delay of 37 minutes per flight by the end of the year. On a day‑to‑day basis, peak delay periods are expected to stretch longer, with airports in the Southeast, Midwest, and West experiencing the most pronounced lag.

Key drivers identified in the FAA report include: - Air‑traffic‑control (ATC) congestion: 45 % of delays were attributed to ATC, a figure that has held steady for the past five years, with no significant technological improvements in the automated control systems since the 1980s. - Pilot and controller shortages: The FAA estimates a deficit of 2,500 air‑traffic controllers by 2027, a shortage that is expected to widen the window for delay incidents. - Weather‑related disruptions: The report notes a 4 % increase in severe weather events that affect flight operations, linked to climate‑change–driven temperature volatility and intensified winter storms.

Georgia’s Perspective

Thompson also referenced a recent report by the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) (https://www.dot.ga.gov/airport/airport_capacity_2025) that examined state airports’ capacity constraints. The DOT’s study found that the combined take‑off and landing slots at Atlanta’s Hartsfield‑Jackson International Airport (ATL) and the state’s smaller regional airports are operating at 94 % capacity, leaving little room to absorb the projected growth in flight traffic. The report highlighted that while ATL’s terminal expansion project is slated to finish in 2027, the airport will still struggle to maintain its current throughput levels, particularly during peak holiday seasons.

In addition to capacity, the DOT report flagged several safety concerns that could contribute to delays: - Runway maintenance: 19 % of delay incidents were traced to runway surface maintenance, with an estimated 12 % of Atlanta’s runway system requiring resurfacing by 2028. - Infrastructure aging: Many of the state’s smaller airports rely on legacy navigation equipment, which the DOT estimates will require a $150 million overhaul by 2030.

Potential Solutions and Industry Responses

During her remarks, Secretary Thompson laid out a multipronged strategy for mitigating the delay crisis. The plan focuses on technological upgrades, workforce expansion, and policy reforms:

1. Technology Modernization
   - Next‑Gen ATC: The DOT will fund the roll‑out of the Advanced Air Traffic Management (AT‑AM) system, a sophisticated, AI‑driven platform designed to increase traffic throughput by up to 15 % in congested airspaces. The DOT will partner with major airlines and airports to pilot the system in the busiest corridors between New York, Chicago, and Atlanta.
   - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Integration: To alleviate ground‑level congestion, the DOT is collaborating with the FAA to develop a shared airspace for drones and small commercial aircraft, which could streamline ground‑traffic flows and reduce runway utilization times.

2. Workforce Development
   - Controller and Pilot Training: A $200 million initiative will increase the pipeline of trained controllers and pilots, with scholarship programs for students in aviation schools and a targeted hiring drive in the Southeast.
   - Retention Incentives: The DOT is proposing a “retention bonus” for senior controllers who commit to at least five years of service post‑recruitment, aiming to reduce attrition rates from 12 % to below 5 % by 2030.

3. Policy and Regulation
   - Slot Reallocation: The DOT will negotiate with the FAA to reallocate a fraction of the “excess” slots from airports with lower utilization rates to over‑burdened hubs during peak periods.
   - Enhanced Weather Forecasting: Funding will be allocated to the FAA’s Meteorological Service to improve real‑time weather forecasting models, reducing weather‑related cancellations by an estimated 3 %.

Industry stakeholders echoed the DOT’s concerns and underscored the economic impact of delays. According to the American Airlines Association (https://www.aaa.org/2025_delays), the airline industry estimates that flight delays cost U.S. consumers over $9 billion annually, not accounting for lost productivity and increased fuel consumption. The Federal Aviation Administration (https://www.faa.gov/flight_delay_analysis) has noted that for every minute of delay, airlines incur approximately $1.3 million in operating costs.

What Passengers Can Expect

While the DOT’s projections paint a grim picture, Secretary Thompson acknowledged that certain steps can help mitigate the impact on travelers:

• Flexible Scheduling: Airlines are encouraged to offer more flexible ticketing options, such as penalty‑free changes, to accommodate last‑minute disruptions.
• Enhanced Passenger Communication: Airports are investing in real‑time notification systems, pushing alerts directly to passengers’ mobile devices.
• Alternative Routes: In cases of persistent congestion, airlines may reroute flights via less‑busy airports, which could increase travel time but reduce overall delay risk.

Conclusion

Secretary Sarah L. Thompson’s stark assessment signals a turning point in U.S. aviation. While the DOT is already implementing a comprehensive plan to address the systemic factors behind flight delays, the road to smoother skies will demand coordinated efforts from federal agencies, state governments, airlines, and airport operators. With the projected uptick in delay times approaching 40 minutes per flight by 2025, travelers and businesses alike must brace for a new era in air travel—one where delays are anticipated, not tolerated.