FAA and controllers' union agree 2.8% pay rise tied to staffing changes

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association have agreed a 2.8% pay increase for controllers, according to a Department of Transportation announcement. It took effect on Oct. 18 and applies retroactively to the beginning of 2026.

Congress required that the extra pay be tied to improvements in operational efficiency. Under the new procedures, air traffic facilities will use employee time tracking of the kind used elsewhere in the federal government, and local managers and union representatives will draw up scheduling guidelines based on expected traffic levels and operational needs.

The FAA will also change how it reassigns controllers, giving priority to transfers into facilities with the largest staffing shortfalls. The agreement covers the remaining 2.8% of a 3.8% increase approved by Congress. Controllers received a 1% adjustment earlier this year, and lawmakers had pressed the agency to authorise the rest.

NATCA President Nick Daniels said the increase reflected the role controllers play in keeping the airspace safe and efficient, and that fair pay and better working conditions were needed to keep an experienced workforce. The FAA has been working to address controller shortages across the country. Earlier this month it reported hiring 2,235 controller trainees in fiscal 2026, a record. It has also revised its workforce staffing targets, with scheduling improvements part of its plan to meet operational demands.