FAA Tries to Ease Flight Congestion at New York Airports

To address the looming issue, the agency said Wednesday that it will give airlines flexibility to reduce operations during the peak summer travel period by forgoing using some of their takeoff and landing rights at New York airports and Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. 

In return, it asked airlines to operate larger planes to accommodate passenger demand with fewer flights, and to keep passengers informed about any schedule changes. 

Airline executives and government officials expect a busy summer for air travel in the U.S. and abroad, and are hoping to avoid the kinds of strains carriers and airports saw last summer when travelers flocked back. This summer, the industry expects even more appetite for international travel, particularly for trips to Europe and other trans-Atlantic destinations, that could add to strains. 

The problems led to tensions last summer between airlines and regulators over who was to blame. Airlines pared back on some of their summer flying plans to account for staffing shortages and other growing pains that emerged during travel’s rapid rebound. 

They also complained last year about short staffing at some critical air-traffic control facilities, including in Florida and the New York area, which they said contributed to cascading delays. 

The staffing shortfalls remain at an air-traffic control facility that handles traffic for LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, the FAA said Wednesday. 

Staffing of fully trained controllers at the facility is about 54% of its target level, which the FAA said can slow things down in the complicated and crowded region and could exacerbate snafus when weather is bad or when demand spikes during busy periods this summer. The facility has other controllers in some stage of training who can cover many of the positions. 

The FAA said staffing issues accounted for about 6% of delay minutes at the three New York-area airports last year, while weather caused nearly 85%. 

The FAA is planning to reassign control of Newark’s airspace to a similar facility in Philadelphia to help alleviate the strain—a plan that has been under way since last year. But that move won’t be completed in time to address the anticipated operational issues this summer.  

The agency allocates access to some of the busiest U.S. airports, including JFK and LaGuardia, and oversees capacity at Newark as well. Carriers that don’t use their takeoff and landing rights can risk losing them.

The FAA said it would allow airlines to turn in up to 10% of their slots or runway timings at the affected airports and set an April 30 deadline for carriers to notify the FAA. 

In letters to Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen this week, airline officials said they recognized the constraints at the three main New York-area airports. 

Delta Air Lines Inc.

and

United Airlines Holdings Inc.

said they would seek to return up to 10% of their takeoff and landing rights at those airports and for flights between New York and Washington Reagan for the season. They committed to using bigger planes to the extent it is possible and said they would develop resilience plans to mitigate disruptions this summer. 

“We are prepared to do our part,”

Toby Enqvist,

United’s chief operating officer, wrote in a March 22 letter, adding that United wants the FAA to ensure that rivals don’t “backfill” capacity being relinquished. 

A Delta spokesman said the airline is reviewing its network to ensure the best customer experience this summer, and commended the FAA for implementing a coordinated plan to improve reliability at the New York airports. 

American Airlines Group Inc.

wrote that it is still evaluating whether to seek a similar waiver allowing it to temporarily give up flying rights but said it recognized that the moves would improve airspace conditions in the region. 

Write to Alison Sider at [email protected]

To address the looming issue, the agency said Wednesday that it will give airlines flexibility to reduce operations during the peak summer travel period by forgoing using some of their takeoff and landing rights at New York airports and Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. 

In return, it asked airlines to operate larger planes to accommodate passenger demand with fewer flights, and to keep passengers informed about any schedule changes. 

Airline executives and government officials expect a busy summer for air travel in the U.S. and abroad, and are hoping to avoid the kinds of strains carriers and airports saw last summer when travelers flocked back. This summer, the industry expects even more appetite for international travel, particularly for trips to Europe and other trans-Atlantic destinations, that could add to strains. 

The problems led to tensions last summer between airlines and regulators over who was to blame. Airlines pared back on some of their summer flying plans to account for staffing shortages and other growing pains that emerged during travel’s rapid rebound. 

They also complained last year about short staffing at some critical air-traffic control facilities, including in Florida and the New York area, which they said contributed to cascading delays. 

The staffing shortfalls remain at an air-traffic control facility that handles traffic for LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, the FAA said Wednesday. 

Staffing of fully trained controllers at the facility is about 54% of its target level, which the FAA said can slow things down in the complicated and crowded region and could exacerbate snafus when weather is bad or when demand spikes during busy periods this summer. The facility has other controllers in some stage of training who can cover many of the positions. 

The FAA said staffing issues accounted for about 6% of delay minutes at the three New York-area airports last year, while weather caused nearly 85%. 

The FAA is planning to reassign control of Newark’s airspace to a similar facility in Philadelphia to help alleviate the strain—a plan that has been under way since last year. But that move won’t be completed in time to address the anticipated operational issues this summer.  

The agency allocates access to some of the busiest U.S. airports, including JFK and LaGuardia, and oversees capacity at Newark as well. Carriers that don’t use their takeoff and landing rights can risk losing them.

The FAA said it would allow airlines to turn in up to 10% of their slots or runway timings at the affected airports and set an April 30 deadline for carriers to notify the FAA. 

In letters to Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen this week, airline officials said they recognized the constraints at the three main New York-area airports. 

Delta Air Lines Inc.

and

United Airlines Holdings Inc.

said they would seek to return up to 10% of their takeoff and landing rights at those airports and for flights between New York and Washington Reagan for the season. They committed to using bigger planes to the extent it is possible and said they would develop resilience plans to mitigate disruptions this summer. 

“We are prepared to do our part,”

Toby Enqvist,

United’s chief operating officer, wrote in a March 22 letter, adding that United wants the FAA to ensure that rivals don’t “backfill” capacity being relinquished. 

A Delta spokesman said the airline is reviewing its network to ensure the best customer experience this summer, and commended the FAA for implementing a coordinated plan to improve reliability at the New York airports. 

American Airlines Group Inc.

wrote that it is still evaluating whether to seek a similar waiver allowing it to temporarily give up flying rights but said it recognized that the moves would improve airspace conditions in the region. 

Write to Alison Sider at [email protected]