Lobbyist: Trump Supports Privatizing Air Traffic Control

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Feb 9, 2017, 1:13 PM ET

President Donald Trump told airline and airport executives Thursday that he supports privatizing America's air traffic control system, according to a top airline industry lobbyist who was in the meeting.

Nick Calio, president and CEO of Airlines for America, the trade association that represents the major airlines, said after the White House meeting that Trump was "extraordinarily positive" when airline executives urged him to spin off air traffic control operations from the Federal Aviation Administration and place them under the control of a private, nonprofit corporation.

That corporation would most likely be dominated by the major airlines.

Asked if Trump committed to back a bill to do that, Calio said: "I think he's on track to do that."

Airlines have complained the FAA is taking too long to modernize the air traffic system. Republican congressman Bill Shuster, chairman of the House transportation committee, introduced legislation to privatize the system last year, but the bill stalled after opposition from other top lawmakers and from business aircraft operators.

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