Which Federal Aviation Administration facilities are the most understaffed?

How has air traffic controller employment changed since 2013? In 2013, the nation had 3.3% fewer air traffic controllers than in 2023, and the annual number of flights declined 5.4%. Some of this has to do, as you might guess, with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, Minnesota’s Rochester Tower was the nation’s most understaffed facility (at 47.8% of target air traffic controllers on staff). Waterloo Tower in Iowa (56.5%), and Morristown Tower in New Jersey (57.9%) followed.

Why aren’t there enough air traffic controllers?  

The FAA has attributed several factors to recent understaffing, including: 

1️⃣ COVID-19: The pandemic interrupted staffing due to paused or reduced training.

2️⃣ Training: A long training process (2-3 years) 

3️⃣ Yearly losses of controllers and trainees