Washington: US officials are pushing ahead with an experiment to reduce rampant flight delays around the United States by auctioning off takeoff and landing times at New York City-area airports, where most delays begin.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced final rules to begin auctioning takeoff and landing "slots" at the three major New York-area airports: John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark-Liberty. Roughly two-thirds of flight delays around the US are caused by backups at those airports.
Peters is adamant that auctions are needed to unclog the skies.
"Without slot auctions, a small number of airlines will profit while travelers bear the brunt of higher fares, fewer choices and deteriorating service," she said in a statement today.
She said the US government will gradually auction up to 10 per cent of the landing and takeoff slots the airlines currently operate at the airports. The plan has drawn loud opposition in Congress, where lawmakers contend it will make things worse for the travelling public by increasing costs and reducing the number of flights to small or mid-sized cities.
Airlines and airports are trying to stop the auction plan in court.
Peters also announced plans to spend $89 million on taxiway improvements at Kennedy Airport, and reduce the number of hourly takeoffs and landings at LaGuardia from 75 to 71. Peters said the change at LaGuardia should cut flight delays there by 40 per cent.
US transportation officials say much of the reason for American flight delays is that airlines have tried to cram too many planes, and too many small planes, onto New York runways, and the over scheduling just isn't realistic.
