Mon, Mar 29, 2004
FAA Says 43 Airports Need To Be Expanded
If 43 US airports aren't upgraded and expanded by 2020, the FAA
says they won't be able to deal with the expected increase in air
traffic.
"If you think we have problems with delay today, wait till you
get to 2013," said Catherine Lang, FAA deputy associate
administrator for airports. "Wait till 2020 and you've got 42
choices for headaches."
In a study of 300 airports nationwide, the FAA found five were
already operating over capacity: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
International Airport, Newark Liberty International, O'Hare (below,
right), Philadelphia International Airport and New York's La
Guardia.
Topping the list of
obvious problems preventing airport expansion -- space and
opposition from neighbors. The report mentioned Logan International
in particular when citing local opposition to expansion. Officials
noted that Logan's spent the better part of three decades trying to
build a consensus for a new runway. While a lot of those hurdles
have been overcome, you'll note the conspicuous absence of any
runway construction at Logan.
SeaTac officials proposed a new runway back in 1987. The project
has been repeatedly delayed by opposition from neighbors.
Construction there isn't slated to begin until 2008 at the
earliest.
In Chicago, the ongoing effort to expand O'Hare has been bogged
down in budget and environmental battles.
The litany goes on. In the meantime, the FAA says the problems
associated with airport overcrowding are likely to continue and
even grow worse, given the growth of metropolitan airports served
by commercial airports and the burgeoning low-fare airline
industry.
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