Regional Airline Association Demands End to Shutdown as FAA Modernization Stalls

When the federal government shut down, it wasn’t just offices that went dark — it was the sky above America. On November 9, 2025, the Regional Airline Association issued a rare, urgent statement condemning the ongoing shutdown, calling it a direct threat to aviation safety and rural connectivity. The statement, delivered by Faye Malarkey Black, President & CEO of the RAA, came just hours after Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senator Susan Collins announced a bipartisan deal to end the shutdown, though no final vote had yet occurred. What made the RAA’s message so urgent? Because while politicians negotiated, air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and FAA engineers kept showing up — unpaid, exhausted, and unable to fix the nation’s aging air traffic systems.

The Sky Can’t Wait

Regional airlines aren’t just a footnote in U.S. aviation — they’re the backbone. Together, they operate 35.0% of all scheduled passenger flights in the country. But their true impact is felt far from major hubs. In nine states, regional carriers provide more than 70% of all scheduled air service: 92.0% in West Virginia, 88.0% in Alaska, 87.0% in North Dakota. In Vermont, it’s 77.0%. In Maine, 72.0%. These aren’t numbers on a chart — they’re lifelines. For a grandmother in rural Montana, a child in rural Kentucky, or a nurse in rural Wyoming, the nearest airport might only have one daily flight — and that flight is operated by a regional carrier.

Yet during the shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration — the agency responsible for modernizing the National Airspace System — was frozen. No new radar upgrades. No software patches for outdated controllers. No safety inspections on navigation aids. The FAA’s $11.3 billion NextGen modernization program, designed to replace 1950s-era radar with satellite-based tracking, has been stuck in neutral since the shutdown began. And that’s not theoretical. According to Visual Capitalist’s analysis, flight cancellations rose 17% week-over-week during the shutdown’s third week, with the highest spikes in states dependent on regional service.

Workers Without Pay, Skies Without Progress

Faye Malarkey Black didn’t mince words: "America cannot modernize its airspace when government is closed for business." Her statement named the people on the front lines — air traffic controllers working double shifts without pay, TSA agents skipping meals to stay on the job, NTSB investigators unable to launch accident probes. These aren’t contractors. They’re federal employees with mortgages, kids, and bills. Many have taken second jobs. Some have skipped medical appointments. One controller in Ohio told a local paper he’s been using his vacation days just to eat.

The RAA’s statement wasn’t just about fairness. It was about risk. When controllers are overworked and underpaid, errors creep in. When FAA engineers can’t update software, older systems fail more often. In 2024, a software glitch in the FAA’s en route system caused 280+ delays in the Midwest — a problem that could’ve been avoided with routine updates now frozen. "This isn’t about politics," Black said. "It’s about whether the next plane you board has the safest possible system guiding it."

Who’s Really Affected — And Where

The shutdown’s impact isn’t evenly distributed. While New York and Chicago might see a few canceled flights, states like West Virginia and Alaska face existential disruption. In Alaska, where 88% of flights are regional, a single canceled flight can strand an entire village for days. In rural Alabama, the only daily flight to Birmingham — operated by a regional carrier — connects patients to cancer treatment centers. When that flight gets axed, people die.

Even states where regional airlines provide 50–70% of service — like Idaho, Iowa, and Nebraska — are feeling the squeeze. Airlines have started cutting frequencies, not because demand dropped, but because they can’t get FAA approvals for new flight paths or runway lighting upgrades. The FAA isn’t just a regulator — it’s a partner. And right now, that partner is on unpaid leave.

What Happens Next?

The Thune-Collins deal, announced November 9, 2025, is a step — but not a solution. The RAA didn’t demand specifics on funding or timelines. They demanded action: pay the workers, unfreeze the FAA, and get the modernization programs moving again. No vague promises. No "we’ll get to it later."

But here’s the catch: even if Congress passes the deal tomorrow, it could take weeks for FAA employees to return to full capacity. The backlog of safety reviews alone is estimated at 4,000 items. And without immediate funding, contractors won’t resume work. The NextGen program? It’s not just delayed — it’s at risk of permanent erosion. The technology is ready. The need is urgent. But leadership has stalled.

Meanwhile, regional airlines are watching. If the shutdown drags on, some may be forced to reduce service permanently — not because they want to, but because they can’t absorb the costs of operating without FAA support. That’s not speculation. In 2018’s 35-day shutdown, three regional carriers permanently cut routes in rural Alaska. They never came back.

Why This Matters Beyond the Sky

This isn’t just about planes. It’s about equity. The same communities that rely on regional airlines are often the ones with the least political clout. They don’t have lobbyists in D.C. They don’t get press coverage when flights get canceled. But they’re the ones who pay the price when government shuts down. The RAA’s statement is one of the clearest signals yet that rural America won’t be ignored anymore.

For the first time, the regional airline industry — long seen as a supporting player — is standing up and saying: our safety, our service, our communities, are not negotiable.