If you’re squeezing into an airport security line this holiday season, here’s a fun fact while you wait: your airline ticket helps keep the whole system running. Passenger taxes were major FAA funding source in FY 2024, making up 65.3% of AATF revenue. Here’s where the rest of the FAA’s budget comes from. 

In FY 2024, the FAA had a budget of $24.8 billion.
The FAA funding comes from three main sources: the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF), the General Fund (which supports airport grants), and temporary congressional acts. Recent examples include the CARES Act of 2020 and the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Revenue from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund comprised $18.9 billion of the FAA’s total budget in FY 2024. The AATF collects revenue by taxing domestic flight tickets, international arrivals and departures, air cargo, plane fuel, and travelers’ purchases in loyalty and frequent flier programs.
In FY 2023, the AATF provided 68.9% of the FAA budget, and in FY 2024, it contributed 75.4%.
The Airport and Airway Trust Fund is projected to contribute an average of $19.5 billion per year to the FAA from FY 2023 to 2033.

See the data

Why are so many air traffic control towers understaffed?

Holiday travel might already test your patience, but here’s an added twist: as of September 2024, over 40% of US terminal air control facilities were understaffed. Hiring is ramping up, but the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is still trying to close a nationwide staffing gap. (By the way the House Transportation Committee just approved bipartisan legislation so the FAA can keep paying air traffic controllers during future government shutdowns.)

The US had 3.9% fewer air traffic controllers in 2024 than in 2013, but annual flight volume rose 6.5% during that time. The FAA plans to hire more than 2,200 new controllers in FY 2026.

Air traffic controller employment and US carriers flights

In 2023, the FAA set a staffing goal of 85.0% for terminal air control facilities. But in 2024, 118 facilities fell short of that target, while 172 met or exceeded it. Eighty-five facilities were overstaffed. But there’s a reason for overstaffing: it prepares a facility for expected attrition.
Among the understaffed sites, 86 of them had staffing ranges above 75%. The remaining 32 were lower still. 
The shortage has been exacerbated by a years-long training process, COVID-19-related training pauses, and annual losses from factors like retirements, transfers, and promotions.
2024’s most understaffed facilities were Grand Forks Tower in North Dakota (53.3% of target staffing), Rochester Tower in Minnesota (56.5%), and Columbus Tower in Georgia (58.3%).

See the data

Data behind the news

The unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November, up 0.4% from a year prior. It was the highest rate since September 2021. See national data and the rates in your state.

Last week, investigators discovered the body of the suspect in a mass shooting at Brown University that killed two students and injured several others.

New Consumer Price Index data for November shows that the headline inflation rate fell to 2.7% last month. See your state’s rate.

How well do you know the facts? Take our weekly quiz to find out.

One last fact

Which states' residents help their neighbors the most?

Is Utah topping the “nice” list this season? In 2023, 68.2% of Utah residents informally helped their neighbors — the highest in the nation. Nevada ranked the lowest at 45.7%. 