"FAA sets lower benchmark for O'Hare's flight capacity"

Tuesday, November 2, 2004

Study of O'Hare Cuts Flight Numbers
The Associated Press


CHICAGO, (AP) - A study released Monday by the Federal Aviation
Administration lowered the number of flights that it said O'Hare
International Airport could handle without causing delays.

Also on Monday, 37 of about 2,600 daily flights at the airport were cut
under a deal with the airlines.

In its new study, the aviation administration found that O'Hare could handle
190 to 200 arrivals and departures an hour under excellent and marginal
weather conditions without creating delays. A 2001 F.A.A. study recommended
a maximum of 200 to 202 flights an hour under those conditions.

When visibility is poor, the airport can handle fewer flights, a maximum of
136 to 144 an hour, according to the new study. The 2001 study recommended
157 to 160.

According to the F.A.A., O'Hare passengers have faced long waits because the
airlines had been scheduling 200 to 220 flights an hour for up to 10 hours a
day.

The agency said the recommendations were "useful for broad policy
discussions and the development of long-term strategies" but were not
requirements.

Because O'Hare is a hub of the commercial aviation system, delays there can
snarl traffic nationwide.

To help ease flight congestion, the Department of Transportation held an
emergency conference in August. In negotiations, O'Hare officials agreed to
limit traffic during the busiest hours, eliminating 37 flights starting Nov.
1. The change was expected to reduce delays at the airport by about 20
percent and across the national air network by 5 percent, F.A.A. officials
said.


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