ATC modernization strains the definition of ‘America first’

The Air Current
Will Guisbond
11 May 2026

The Federal Aviation Administration’s selection and consideration of foreign-owned contractors to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system has stoked frustration among U.S. businesses vying for the same contracts, underscoring how a broader shift towards protectionism is testing an aviation industry built on globalization.

Spain’s Indra, France’s Thales and Austria’s Frequentis have all been selected or are in the running for various “Brand New” Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) efforts, prompting multiple U.S. contractors to argue that their inclusion is antithetical to the Trump administration’s “America first” foreign policy, people briefed on the matter told The Air Current. Those U.S. contractors have pointed to a 2024 European Union regulation that bars non-EU companies from providing ATC services in member states as a specific reason why European companies should be excluded from BNATCS programs...

ATC modernization strains the definition of ‘America first’ - The Air Current - 11 May 2026