Duffy to request $30bn more for US aviation infrastructure

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the administration will ask Congress for an additional $30 billion for aviation infrastructure. He gave the figure in a speech in Washington on Tuesday, saying the country's changing needs at airports had to be assessed.

The request breaks into three parts of roughly $10 billion each: replacing ageing air traffic control towers, funding telecommunications and other control technology, and improving airports. Some of the technology money would widen use of the FAA's new software-based flight management system, which began operating on Monday.

Congress approved $12.5 billion last year for air traffic control reforms over five years. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the previous week that the first phase of the modernisation effort is expected to cost $16 billion, and that more money would be needed to finish the work. The agency intends to cover the difference between the two sums from its existing facilities and equipment budget. Bedford has also said a second phase would require at least another $10 billion.

Costs for parts of the programme have risen. Telecommunications upgrades are now projected at $5.91 billion, against an earlier estimate of $4.75 billion.

The request comes days after a widespread telecommunications failure on Monday disrupted thousands of flights across the Northeast.