OREANDA-NEWS. November 18, 2015. Delta’s position against privatizing the Air Traffic Organization – which provides air navigation services across the U.S – is poised to gain support this week as a new Op-Ed featured in Crain’s New York Business outlines key reasons the proposed scheme isn’t the answer to modernizing the nation’s congested air space.

In the Op-Ed, “Ground the plan to privatize the nation’s air traffic control,” Capt. Steve Dickson, Senior Vice President – Flight Operations, argued, “Privatizing air-traffic control will not address structural issues that will always exist, such as the proximity of high-volume airports in the Northeast.”

Nav Canada – the private air traffic organization that manages Canada’s less complex airspace –  has been held up by supporters of privatization an example of what the U.S. should strive for. Dickson disagreed.

“Last year I traveled with five Delta leaders to Nav Canada’s headquarters in Ottawa to see the evidence that the system would benefit the U.S. ... We came back with:

  • Zero quantifiable data showing operational efficiency or improvements as a result of privatization;
  • Zero data to suggest that U.S. airlines or customers would benefit from cost advantages as a result of privatization;
  • Zero analytical data comparing public versus private ownership.

... There is no evidence from Nav Canada that privatization will improve operational reliability or the customer experience. What it will do is add uncertainty to the very stable current system and foster silos that stymie efforts between operators and the FAA to continue improving airspace in New York and beyond."

Dickson outlined improvements New York travelers have seen in recent years thanks to NextGen efforts, including a 66 percent decrease in the number of flights that return to the gate before takeoff, and a drop in taxi times by nine minutes during snowstorms, thunderstorms and other irregular operations.

Dickson issued another Op-Ed, “Privatizing Air Traffic Organization threatens customer service,” in September. It outlines the work the FAA, airlines and other industry stakeholders have done to improve the air space in recent years, and how it’s all at risk under a privatized ATO model.