Are most of the flights departing from JFK/LaGuardia/Newark full? Can gov't cut # of flights from there?

Question

Clarification: I know the gov't has the RIGHT to do this, and they already limit the number of departure and arrival slots at the three NY airports. My question is: Can they cut the number of slots without leaving the traveling public in that area at a severe disadvantage?

Answer 1

I fly out of Newark almost exclusively and most of the flights are pretty full. There are some flights to smaller cities, like Rochester, that can be very empty. On the most part, on the 30+ flights I've taken this year, the planes have been more than 75% full. Cutting 1 flight a day on some routes would be impossible.

Answer 2

I am sure the government can step in if the delays in the NY corridor are so bad that it is affecting the flights departing from other cities. The JFK/LGA/EWR corridor is the most busy airspace in the world. All 3 airports are very busy and sometimes schedule more take-offs and landings than they can handle. Unfortunately when bad weather hits, the delays get even worse. I have noticed that LGA has more regional jets taking off and landing. I think airlines are trying to schedule more flights because passengers want flexibility and more flights that fit their schedule.

I do think the government can cut the number of flights but I think they need to work on updating the air traffic control equipment. It is pretty outdated. With newer equipment, I think it will help with delays.

Answer 3

Yes, the government can regulate the number of flights. That's not to say that it will, but it has happened before.

Some airports have had government-imposed slot controls in the past. Slot controls essentially regulate the number of departures and arrivals that can take place per hour. It prevents the airlines from scheduling more flights than the airport can realistically handle.

Answer 4

I don't know about that. I live near JFK and there are flights going in and out like every 5 mins. If they can cut some flights, then that would be great. But I also think of the people that need constant flights. JFK and Newark is an international airport. The US gov't can't control international flights. So It's very tricky.

Answer 5

Since the airlines have cut back their number of flights, most flights are very full...

So the comfortable half full flights we used to take are now jammed packed.