Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is celebrating progress in the Trump administration's effort to drag U.S. air traffic control into the modern era — and that means saying goodbye to floppy disks and paper flight strips.
In a video posted Tuesday on X by the White House's Rapid Response account, Duffy showed off the revamped system in an interview with Fox News. He highlighted how paper flight strips — those little slips that carry flight name, destination, altitude, and other info — are now obsolete. And yes, floppy disks are finally getting the boot too.
Duffy didn't hold back in criticizing previous administrations for failing to deliver on modernization promises. "In six-and-a-half months, we have made leaps and bounds of progress in building out this new [air traffic control] system," he said, noting the timeline since he first asked for funding.
But the work isn't done. Duffy said additional funds are needed to implement new software, which he called the "magic" to reduce delays. According to a Reuters report Tuesday, Duffy has requested an extra $10 billion for software upgrades, down from the $19 billion he originally asked Congress for.
The modernization push comes after a tragic crash at New York's LaGuardia Airport, where an Air Canada Express CRJ-900 aircraft hit a ground support vehicle, killing both pilots. Duffy said revamping air traffic control is the administration's top priority in response.
Meanwhile, President Trump has floated the idea of federal aid for struggling budget airline Spirit Aviation Holdings Inc. (OTC: FLYYQ), as reports suggest the carrier could shut down amid creditor concerns over its ability to pay debts.
