By DAVID SHEPARDSON Reuters
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WASHINGTON — Major airline CEOs on Wednesday called on Congress to approve billions of dollars in funding to modernize the United States’ aging air traffic control system, saying it is “failing Americans.”

The Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control network’s woes have been years in the making. But a rush of high-profile mishaps, near-misses and a deadly January crash involving an American Airlines regional jet caused public alarm and prompted new calls for action.

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In a joint letter, the airline executives cited recent failures involving Newark Airport and said the FAA’s technology “is wildly out of date.”

“Aviation remains the safest mode of transportation in the U.S., but for it to remain so, serious upgrades need to happen now,” said the letter, citing a 2023 independent review that raised safety concerns.

The executives called for urgent action as the busy summer travel season begins with the Memorial Day holiday this weekend.

The FAA on Tuesday predicted a record number of Memorial Day holiday flights despite imposing temporary flight cuts at Newark due to runway construction, technology issues and persistent air traffic control staffing shortages.

The letter was signed by the heads of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Airlines, Atlas Air, trade group Airlines for America and senior executives at FedEx and UPS.

Airlines and others this month called for at least $31 billion in spending on air traffic reform.

The U.S. House is considering legislation that includes an initial $12.5 billion for air traffic control reform efforts.