WASHINGTON, D.C. (WCAX) – Senator Peter Welch is checking his questions for the FAA after Jet Blue’s departure from Burlington’s airport.
In a Senate committee hearing, the Vermont senator asked the Federal Aviation Administration what they are doing to address the shortage of air traffic controllers.
He says the shortage has resulted in canceled flights, delays, and canceled flight paths.
In October of last year, Jet Blue announced it would no longer service Burlington, cutting their route to JFK in New York, citing a shortage of air traffic controllers at JFK.
Welch asked FAA administrator Michael Whitaker what the agency is doing to remedy that.
“I think that was largely a reduction because we’ve reduced capacity on the East Coast corridor by 10% because of staffing problems specifically in New York. We are in the process of moving some of that airspace to Philadelphia. That’s been a long process, but we’re hoping to cut over in July—end of July,” said Whitaker.
Whitaker also says the agency has been trying to make it easier to hire by creating new pipelines for controllers to enter the industry, including a pipeline for military controllers and changes to education standards.