Aviation officials, airlines blasted over delays
WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers heaped intense criticism on federal aviation regulators and airlines Wednesday for this year's surge in flight delays as momentum grew for government action to restrict flights into the nation's most congested airports.
The contentious hearing before the House Aviation Subcommittee came a day before today's scheduled meeting between President Bush and his top transportation officials to discuss what has been the worst year ever for delays. Hoping to avert restrictions, Delta Airlines on Wednesday announced it was voluntarily reducing some flights at New York's John F. Kennedy airport.
Several congressmen, including subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello, D-Ill., demanded that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pressure airlines to trim flights at the most overburdened airports.
"Tell me why you just won't do it," demanded Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass. "You are embarrassing all of us here. Your agency's failure to act is embarrassing."
FAA acting Administrator Bobby Sturgell would not say if he would force airlines to cut schedules, but the agency has already taken steps to pressure carriers. Last week, the FAA notified airlines it would work with them to review their operations at Kennedy and Newark (N.J.) Liberty International Airport. The airports are two of the three most delayed in the nation.
Delays so far this year are the worst ever recorded, according to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics. At Kennedy, Newark and New York's LaGuardia Airport, more than four out of every 10 arrivals have been at least 15 minutes late this year.
Lengthy delays are also at record levels. Last summer, 6.4% of flights arrived at least an hour late.
Sturgell and Department of Transportation General Counsel D.J. Gribbin said that they would prefer not to impose caps on flights because it's inefficient.
The administration would rather charge airlines higher fees for using congested airports, but Congress has rejected that.
"If you are not willing to take action, we'll have to step in and mandate it," Costello said. After the hearing, Costello and other powerful House lawmakers scheduled an announcement this morning on delays.
Delta, the carrier with the most flights at JFK, said it would reduce the number of departures during peak afternoon and evening periods next summer even as it expands its international service. The flights will be more spread out during the day.
"We're doing this responsibly," CEO Richard Anderson said.
Last week, Continental Airlines, which dominates Newark, announced it will move small regional jets from Newark to Cleveland and replace them with larger regional jets and full-size jets. Using larger jets will allow it to carry more passengers without adding flights.