The US Transportation Department announced on Wednesday 19th December 2007 that restrictions are to be introduced on the number of hourly flights from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK).

The restrictions involve the introduction of so-called "flight caps" which will mean the number of arrivals and departures at JFK will be limited to 82 or 83 per hour during peak periods. The Department also said that it intends to introduce flight caps at nearby Newark Liberty International Airport.

The flight caps at JFK take effect from March 2008, and the cap of 82 or 83 hourly arrivals and departures will continue for two years.

Announcing the plans, the Transportation Department stated that the caps were being introduced as a way of tackling increasing congestion at JFK and expanding the airport's overall capacity.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters explained that the caps will enable airlines to move flights to less busy times in the schedule, which will reduce delays and at the same time allow JFK to handle more flights overall.

Ms Peters commented: "These new measures will cut delays, protect consumer choice, support New York's economy, and allow for new flights as we bring new capacity online."

Additionally, the Department said that if JFK's overall capacity was to be boosted as a result of the flight caps, then a system of auctions on take-off and landing slots would be introduced for which airlines could bid.

Mixed Reaction from Airport and Airlines

There was a mixed reaction to the flight caps from airport officials and airlines.

The operator of JFK, the New York and New Jersey Port Authority, expressed its disapproval of the caps scheme. In a statement they said the measure would "cut the number of passengers at JFK, reduce travel options and increase prices for every passenger."

The Washington Post reported that a number of the larger international airlines flying into JFK such as British Airways and Lufthansa were "dissatisfied" with the scheme, while industry experts commented that overseas airlines wanting to exploit the new 'Open Skies' Treaty between the US and the EU in order to launch services to the US via JFK could be harmed by the caps.

Contrasting with this, the US Air Transport Association (ATA), a trade group representing several US airlines, said they believed their members broadly welcomed the caps scheme because it would help improve the efficiency of their operations.

Jim May, President of the ATA, commented: "A balanced approach has taken place. It is a result that is not only acceptable but positive from airlines' perspective".

Auction Plans Criticised

However, the Transportation Department's future aim to introduce auctions for take-off and landing slots at JFK were roundly criticised by the Port Authority as well as airline executives and representative trade groups.

The Port Authority called the auction plans "restrictive", while Delta Air Lines Chief Executive commented that "they will do nothing to elimiate congestion".

Giovanni Bisignani, the International Air Transport Association's Director General and Chief Executive, said that "an eBay approach [of] slot auctions will not solve the problem" of delays.

Source - Airport International's US Correspondent

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