Airlines want to be allowed to operate fewer flights to New York without penalty through most of 2025; They cited a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers that carriers do not expect to fully improve within the next 18 months.
Last week, Airlines for America – a lobbying group for America’s largest airlines – asked the Federal Aviation Administration to extend relaxed schedule rules for New York airlines for to at least October 2025, according to a letter seen by TPG.
The FAA is reviewing the request, a spokesperson told TPG on Friday.
New York and DC ‘slot’ rules
Last spring, the FAA allowing airlines to reduce capacity for the first time — without penalty — in the New York area at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
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This added flexibility eliminates some difficulties Use it or lose it rule around the “slots” the FAA uses at JFK and LaGuardia. Essentially, a slot represents permission for an airline to perform one takeoff or one landing. Current regulations require airlines to use their available slots during a certain period of the year at those airports, otherwise they are at risk. lose them. This is intended to prevent airlines from hoarding seats they have no intention of using as a way to block out rival airlines.
Similar regulations apply to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
The FAA also closely monitors takeoffs and landings at Newark.
New York ATC Restrictions
Staffing levels at the agency’s key New York air traffic control facility are falling far behind targets; So in 2023, the agency began temporarily allowing airlines to voluntarily reduce schedules by up to 10% without risk of losing future flights.
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The current waiver also allows airlines to reduce schedules between DCA and New York.
The agency’s goal: reduce the burden on the region’s congested airspace and on the air traffic controllers who manage it.
Airlines widely praised the FAA’s limited, conditional seat waivers, which the agency initially rolled out for the 2023 summer travel season and then expanded. The move helped promote a “significantly better travel experience,” Airlines for America said, compared to mass disruption has made air travel difficult in 2022.
As of now, those exemptions will last until October 2024.
Concerns for 2025 and beyond
Airlines are currently planning for 2025 schedules and they fear air traffic control staffing will not improve significantly over the next 18 months.
“The underlying conditions that created the need for the waiver will persist as staffing shortages persist,” the April 3 letter from the airlines said.
Airlines note that with so many major air hubs in New York, disruptions there could cause disruptions nationwide and “have system-wide effects.”
Staff shortage is a painful problem
The FAA’s shortage of air traffic control personnel has been going on for years. However, they have accelerated over the past decade under the combined impact of isolation, multiple government shutdowns and the coronavirus pandemic.
Even though the FAA increased its target for hiring new controllers, February staffing at the key air traffic control facility in New York only reached 59% of the agency’s target, airlines pointed out in the letter. their recent letter.
That means there will be fewer staff to manage the thousands of planes in the area, which is especially difficult when afternoon thunderstorms or thick fog roll in, causing ground shutdowns and Long wait on the taxiway.
“Absent [slot] waiver, I think we, as an industry, are going to have some real challenges in New York,” Peter Carter, executive vice president of external affairs for Delta Air Lines, said on the call The company reported its first-quarter earnings Wednesday. “This remains an extremely challenging environment.” .”
In New York especially, airlines have been operating fewer – but larger – planes to meet demand but overcome restrictions.
Last summer, airlines flew from three major New York area airports with 1.2% more seats than in 2019 while operating 3.1% fewer flights, according to data from aviation analytics company Cirium.
Ask for a quick decision
In its letter, Airlines for America asked the FAA to decide by May 1 whether it will extend the temporary, conditional waivers in New York and Reagan.
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