Delta Air Lines (DAL) stock plummeted 5.22% in pre-market trading on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, as concerns over the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) persistent staffing shortages and aging infrastructure weighed on the airline industry.
The decline came ahead of a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee hearing scheduled for the same day, which will address the FAA's ongoing challenges. According to reports, the FAA remains approximately 3,500 fully certified air traffic controllers below targeted staffing levels and has 10% fewer controllers than it did in 2012.
Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the FAA's outdated equipment and run-down facilities, with one-third of its air traffic control systems deemed unsustainable. Lawmakers and industry representatives are expected to call for urgent emergency funding to boost FAA staffing and infrastructure, as well as changes to prevent collisions with helicopters.
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