Airports With Consistent Delays Need NextGen And Runway Improvements

The third edition of an FAA report on long-term airport capacity needs concluded that the FAA and airport operators must rely on NextGen technologies and procedures as well as runway improvements to address future airport capacity constraints. The Future Airport Capacity Task (FACT3) report identified airports that are at risk for significant delays and congestion through 2020 and 2030.

New or reconfigured runways can effectively improve capacity at airports with significant constraints, the report noted. NextGen technologies and procedures can provide helpful but modest improvements to airport capacity and can help optimize the efficient movement of flights to and from a new runway.
 
"Ensuring that we have adequate airport infrastructure is critical to the efficient operation of the national air transportation system,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.  “Keeping the aviation industry abreast of current and future airport capacity needs will put everyone in the best position to plan for the future.”
 
For the rest of this decade, much of the U.S. hub airport system has sufficient capacity – except for several high-demand airports that have consistent delays, the report noted.  Since the previous FACT reports were released in 2004 and 2007, the construction of new and extended runways at 15 busy hub airports has enhanced airport capacity. The report concluded that the aviation community and the FAA should continue to focus on improving capacity, reliability, and predictability at the consistently-delayed airports, including New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and San Francisco.
 
“The report allows airport operators and aviation industry partners to be forward-thinking and to actively explore options based on projected travel growth at their respective airports,” said FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta. “We will remain vigilant and monitor the safety and efficiency of the national airspace system.”
 
The FAA says it will continue to work with airports to plan capacity projects where they are needed to mitigate congestion and delays.

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