The FAA will delay plans to close 149 contract air traffic control towers until June 15 in order to deal with legal challenges to the move.
The agency announced in March it would eliminate funding for the towers in response to $637 million in sequestration budget cuts.
A phased, four-week closure process was to take place starting in early April, but instead the agency will now cease funding all 149 towers on June 15 and will close the facilities unless the airports are able to continue operations as a nonfederal contract tower.
"We will use this additional time to make sure communities and pilots understand the changes at their local airports," said Transportation secretary Ray LaHood.
According to the FAA, about 50 airport authorities and other stakeholders have indicated they may join the FAA’s non-Federal Contract Tower program and fund the tower operations themselves.