Comes As Schumer Blasts FAA For Hellish Summer, Calls For 'Czar'

On Friday, US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters called for a meeting with airlines to discuss flight schedules into and out of New York’s JFK airport. The meeting between the FAA and airlines serving JFK will be held October 23-24.  

The scheduling meeting is part of what Peters (right) termed a "two-pronged approach" to address chronic New York delays.

She also has charged a group of airline, airport and travel officials with developing a series of additional measures to reduce congestion at New York’s three major airports before the start of the 2008 summer travel season.

"Our first choice is to find market-based incentives to fix delays so we can preserve passenger choice, but we will consider imposing scheduling restrictions as one option to avoid a repeat of this summer’s delays," Peters said. 

Airlines at JFK increased their scheduled operations by 41 percent between March 2006 and August 2007, Peters said. As a result, the number of arrival delays exceeding one hour increased by 114 percent in the first 10 months of fiscal year 2007, compared to the same period the previous year.

During June and July 2007, on-time arrival performance at JFK was only 59 percent, she said.

Schumer Unveils Three-Part Plan For Northeast Airspace

Meanwhile, on Friday bombastic New York Senator Charles Schumer unveiled his plan to fix congested airspace over the region. His plan echoes the ideas put forth by DOT in many ways, but there's a significant difference: the FAA need not apply here, according to the senator.

"If you want to know why these delays occur, three letters describe it -- F-A-A and their incompetence," Schumer said, according to WCBS-2.

Schumer's plan calls for a meeting between airlines -- and only the airlines -- to work out a reasonable flight schedule. Such meetings are currently forbidden due to anti-trust concerns, without approval by the FAA. The airlines have already asked for such a meeting, but so far, the agency hasn't granted its permission.

"We would ask that if they can't settle it together with the FAA, saying you get a certain amount, then the FAA lay down the law," Schumer said.

The senator also wants the government to open up a large section of airspace off the East Coast, that is now reserved for military training. "The military rarely uses it," Schumer said. "When they need it it's fine, but the rest of the time this alleyway should be available to commercial flights."

Lastly, Schumer wants an East Coast "Air Czar" to coordinate ATC operations in the area.

Schumer's plan drew immediate praise from the Air Transport Association, lobbying group for the nation's airlines.

"We applaud Senator Schumer for working with the industry and government to help reduce the growing number of flight delays and improve the customer travel experience," said ATA President and CEO James C. May. "Like the senator, we support the appointment of a 'czar' to lead a multi-faceted congestion initiative in the Northeast corridor. To ensure utmost accountability, someone in this new leadership role must be empowered to make substantive adjustments to the management of our nation’s airports and airspace. 

"ATA member airlines are fully committed to working closely with all stakeholders to address the challenges associated with the growing demand for travel in and out of the New York area," May added.

FMI: www.dot.gov, www.faa.gov, www.airlines.org, http://schumer.senate.gov/