"N.Y. wants federal help to ease flight congestion"

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

N.Y. wants federal help to ease flight congestion 
The Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger 


Soaring flight delays at New York-area airports will put the city's economy
in a holding pattern and harm the environment unless the federal government
acts quickly to ease congestion, a city comptroller report released
yesterday said.

Airline on-time performance at Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty
airports has plummeted at a faster rate than other cities, and cancellation
rates are among the nation's highest.

The problems could discourage new industries from coming to New York and
prompt existing firms to relocate, Comptroller William Thompson said.

Passengers are already feeling the pain in their wallets, the report said.

"In 2007, passengers are spending 3.9 million extra hours a year waiting for
their plane to take off after it has already left the gate" compared with
waits 10 years ago, the report said. "Based on the median hourly amount, the
additional time is costing travelers $187 million extra."

Thompson called on the Federal Aviation Administration to modernize the air
traffic control system and boost the number of controllers to reduce delay
and pollution-causing congestion.

He also offered alternatives like a congestion pricing system that would
charge airlines more to fly at peak travel times.

New York's historic delays prompted President Bush to open military airspace
during the Thanksgiving holiday to keep planes moving swiftly.

Bush also announced in September that the administration would address
delays at New York airports, said Brian Turmail, spokesman for the federal
Department of Transportation.

Thompson said the FAA could fast-track new GPS flight-tracking technology
that would decrease delays.

Four regions are set to receive the GPS equipment by 2010, but New York,
with the worst delays in the nation, won't see equipment on the ground until
2013.

Turmail said the department is already looking into faster implementation of
GPS, among other solutions.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey needs to keep an open mind on
congestion pricing, with Kennedy alone expecting a 22 percent increase in
flights next year, Turmail said.

The authority and at least one airline have opposed that measure.

"It would only result in increased fees for us passengers," said Delta
Airlines spokeswoman Chris Kelly.

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