The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association have agreed to a 2.8% pay increase for eligible air traffic controllers across the US National Airspace System. The increase takes effect on 18 October and is retroactive to the first full pay period of 2026, while new workforce measures will change time tracking, shift planning and controller reassignments amid continuing staffing shortages.
The agreement follows a 1% government-wide pay increase already received by controllers. The additional 2.8% was part of a congressionally authorised 2026 pay package and was linked to operational-efficiency reforms.
Under the deal, controllers will use facility badge-in and badge-out systems to provide managers with more accurate attendance and training data. Local managers and union representatives will develop shift guidelines based on forecast workload and operational requirements, with the aim of improving coverage during periods of higher traffic.
The reassignment process will also prioritise facilities facing the most severe staffing shortages. NATCA identifies 11 January 2026 as the retroactive date for the adjustment. The agreement affects thousands of controllers, but does not resolve the broader national staffing deficit or specify individual pay amounts and facility-level implementation schedules.