Move Affects 72 Facilities That Were To Lose Overnight Service

The FAA has reversed course on a plan to close 72 air traffic control towers and other ATC facilities at midnight in an effort to meet the automatic spending cuts that went into effect under sequestration.

The announcement came Wednesday after a conference call with airlines and advocacy groups. Some of the airports that were to lose overnight service included Chicago's Midway Airport, Milwaukee's General Mitchell Airport, Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico, and Atlantic City International in New Jersey.

The Associated Press reports that the decision to cut the midnight shifts was separate from the furloughs that were the subject of legislation passed last week. Cuts is staffing at control towers around the country were blamed for airport delays, particularly in the busy northeast corridor.

The FAA did not say that the bipartisan legislation passed by the congress was the reason they decided to keep the facilities open overnight. In fact, they gave no reason at all. The agency is still mulling whether to close 149 contract towers at smaller and mid-sized airports around the country. The mayors and other community leaders of 70 cities joined together last week to write a letter to FAA administrator Michael Huerta and DOT secretary Ray LaHood saying that the contract towers should remain open. That effort was supported by the Alliance for Airports Across America.

FMI: www.faa.gov