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US air traffic controllers have secured a 2.8% pay increase under a new agreement with federal officials that requires closer attendance tracking and changes to how shifts are staffed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the deal with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) on Friday, October 16, following negotiations over pay and workforce reforms.
The increase takes effect October 18 and will cover eligible controllers retroactively from January 11, the first full federal pay period of 2026, according to the union. Congress authorized the increase but tied part of the funding to workplace reforms. Workers had already received a 1% increase, while the rest of the $140 million allocation remained tied to those reforms.
Controllers must now badge in and out of their facilities, allowing supervisors to verify shift times. The change is intended to limit early departures, sometimes called ‘early shoves,’ and bring controller attendance procedures closer to those used across other federal workplaces.
The practice attracted attention following a March 22 runway collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport, where an Air Canada Express aircraft struck a fire truck. Two pilots died. The National Transportation Safety Board continues investigating the crash; it has not established whether early departures contributed to the collision.
Other provisions address workforce deployment. Instead of relying on established shift patterns, managers and local union officials will set guidelines around expected flight traffic, especially during the busiest hours. The aim is fuller coverage during busy periods.
Staffing shortages persist nationwide. Some controllers routinely work overtime and six-day weeks, raising concerns about fatigue and making it harder for managers to cover absences without stretching remaining staff.
The agreement changes reassignment priorities, directing transfers toward facilities with the most pressing shortages. The FAA said previous rules allowed too many controllers to move to locations that had relatively small staffing gaps, leaving harder-hit facilities short of experienced workers.
The agency reported earlier in October that it recruited 2,235 controller trainees in fiscal 2026, a record. However, training takes time, and new hires cannot immediately replace fully certified employees. FAA guidance notes that certification can take more than two years, depending on how complex a facility is. Its staffing plan calls for at least 2,300 trainee hires in 2027 and 2,400 in 2028.
NATCA President Nick Daniels described the agreement as the result of sustained efforts in Congress and at the bargaining table. In a statement, the union confirmed that the raise would apply retroactively from January 11, rather than only to pay earned after the October start date.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the changes would improve staff deployment and make scheduling more responsive to traffic demand. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford pointed to better time tracking and shift planning as ways to support controllers while managing the national airspace system.
The FAA's 2026 workforce plan calls for 12,563 fully certified controllers. In August, it counted about 11,000 at its facilities and another 4,000 in training, including experienced controllers qualifying at new locations.
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