"Feds: Cities face critical airport expansions"

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Feds: Cities face critical airport expansions
By Errin Haines
The Associated Press


ATLANTA -- A number of major U.S. cities must expand existing airports in
the next two decades, build new ones or find other solutions to meet an
increasing demand for air travel, according to a federal report released
Tuesday.

The Federal Aviation Administration released the latest version of its
study, titled "Capacity Needs in the National Airspace System." The report
examined anticipated changes to airport capacity through 2025, and said city
airports including Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago and San Diego need to expand
soon.

Against the backdrop of the world's busiest airfield, U.S. Secretary of
Transportation Mary Peters on Tuesday praised Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport for building another runway and new air
traffic control towers. Peters also announced a $1 million grant to study
further capacity expansion in Atlanta.

"By 2025, cities like Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago and San Diego are going to
risk the lost revenue, lost business and lost appeal that comes with chronic
delay," Peters said. "Atlanta's leaders will have to embrace new airports
and new ways of thinking."

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Marion Blakey said Tuesday
that the current number of air passengers is "sounding a siren that must be
responded to" with a regional approach.

Airports in Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles, St. Louis and Minneapolis-St.
Paul have also recently opened new runways.

The FAA study began in 2003 reviewing 291 commercial service airports, and
whittled that down to the 56 most at risk of overcapacity.

After the completion of the first version of this study in 2004, it was
recommended that Atlanta expand immediately. The city made substantial
improvements since, but aviation officials warned it will need to address
growing passenger demand before 2025.

Four airports were identified as needing to expand capacity immediately,
including New York's LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International, O'Hare
International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International.

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