The US Congress has passed President Donald Trump's sweeping tax and spending bill, which includes the allocation of $12.5bn to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the modernisation of the country's air traffic control (ATC).
The US House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 218 to 214 last week, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating the full bill could add $3.3 trillion to federal deficits over the next ten years.
This initial funding will allow US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to begin implementing the administration’s plan to overhaul the country's outdated ATC system with new, modern technology that will aim to make air travel safer and more efficient. Duffy stated that an overhaul was needed after repeated problems with radio and radar blackouts at Newark Liberty International Airport led to major disruption.
Earlier this year a US House of Representatives subcommittee also heard from a panel of witnesses about a need to invest in modernising and adequately staffing the US air traffic control (ATC) system.
Groups such as Airlines for America (A4A) and American Airlines have welcomed the passing of the funding.