Airports Council Welcomes Plan to Improve Aviation Safety

May 8, 2025

WASHINGTON – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) President and CEO Kevin Burke today welcomed a proposal put forward by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to overhaul America’s aging air traffic control system and improve aviation safety. ACI-NA is the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada.

“As President Trump, Secretary Duffy, Acting Administrator Rocheleau, Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, NTSB Chair Homendy, and Chairman Cruz discussed today, safety in air travel is paramount in the sky and on the ground. We must act now to address the safety and efficiency issues that are causing delays for travelers and impeding cargo shipments across the United States.

“We look forward to working with Secretary Duffy and Congress to advance a comprehensive plan that makes critical investments in new technology, provides for long overdue on-the-ground airport infrastructure safety improvements, and strengthens the workforce that supports air travel as a powerful engine of economic growth.

“Whether it is updating our antiquated air traffic control system or clearing the backlog of on-airport safety projects, we applaud the steps President Trump, Secretary Duffy, and Congress are taking to prioritize safety. Implementing a comprehensive plan will require strong collaboration among all aviation stakeholders, and airports look forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work.”

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About ACI-NA

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) represents local, regional, and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Approximately 380 aviation-related businesses are also members of ACI-NA, providing goods and services to airports. Collectively, U.S. airports support more than 11.5 million jobs and account for $1.4 trillion in economic activity – or more than seven percent of the total U.S. GDP. Canadian airports support 405,000 jobs and contribute C$35 billion to Canada’s GDP. Learn more at www.airportscouncil.org.