Authorities within the US airport sector are looking to impose hourly flight restrictions on New York's delay-ridden John F. Kennedy International Airport, in order that travel schedules can be adhered to. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) proposal involves limiting flights per hour to 80, per half-hour, to 44 and to 24 in a 15 minute timeframe. To this end, it is soon to converse with officials within the airline industry in order to discuss downsizing JFK's current handling of up to 100 flights every 60 minutes.

In response, a number of airlines have combined to issue a statement, emphasising how this measure will not cure JFK of its delays. According to James May - the president of Air Transportation of America - the move represents a "disappointing decision". He continued: "Slashing operations at JFK alone will not solve the congestion problem but will shut the door on growth for our country's leading international gateway".

Alternatively, suggested the airlines, congestion could be lessened through modifying existing flight paths or introducing more advanced technology into air traffic control.

According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the FAA should place more emphasis on future growth, rather than effectively advertising JFK as fully-occupied.

Steve Sigmund - a spokesman from the authority - highlighted how, so far in 2007, it has detailed 17 further proposals for JFK. "Putting a 'no vacancy' sign on one airport isn't a solution to the flight delay problem," Sigmund asserted. "The right thing for the FAA to do is to implement long-term solutions to meet demand and expand capacity."

In the event that the meeting reveals the FAA to be resolute on its decision, discussions will likely move to issues including how flights there are allocated among airlines in competition with one another.

Within the US airport network, delays are not restricted to JFK. The widespread issue of flights not conforming to schedule has already been noticed by the US Congress and the US President, George W. Bush.

Source - Airport International's US Correspondent

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