Schumer Reveals NYC Flight Delays this Summer Could Be Worse than Ever

SCHUMER REVEALS NYC FLIGHT DELAYS THIS SUMMER COULD BE WORSE THAN EVER

Of 33 Busiest Airports in Country, LGA, JFK and Newark Among WORST in Late Arrivals

Schumer Proposes New Legislation to Require Airlines to Immediate Alert Passengers of Delays, Give them Option to Rebook

As the summer travel season heats up, and experts predict that June, July and August will be busier than ever before, today Senator Schumer revealed that flight delays at the New York metropolitan airports are at their worst. With 207 million people expected to fly this summer, and Newark, LaGuardia and JFK servicing 100 million travelers a year Schumer today unveiled his new bill, the Airline Travelers Late Awareness Act to rid airline travelers of the frustrations of not knowing when their flights will take off and land, even with posted delays.

"Nothing is more frustrating than when an airline knows that a flight is delayed but doesn't tell passengers until they are sitting on a plane and stuck with their ticket," Schumer said. "When you call ahead and are told that your flight is on time only to get to the airport and wait, causes endless frustration. Passengers deserve to know that their flight is delayed and should have the option of rebooking."

207 million people are expected to fly this summer, which is up 2 million from the 205 million that flew last summer and up from 185 million travelers in the summer of 2001. Aside from the extremely high number of air travelers, experts predict that summer storms will likely send the already imperfect air traffic control system into disarray causing even more flight delays. In addition, 70,000 fewer people are employed by airlines now than in 2002 and this year alone airlines expect 100 million more passengers.

Of the 31 largest airports nationwide, JFK and La Guardia consistently rank near last in on-time performance and Newark airport ranks dead last. For the year to date, of the country's 31 largest airports, JFK, LaGuardia and Newark rank 27, 29 and 31 respectively. In the past six months alone, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics 23% of arrivals into JFK were delayed, 34.5% of arrivals into LaGuardia were delayed and 37% of arrivals into Newark were late. The average arrival delay in April for late flights coming into JFK was 45 minutes, for LaGuardia was 53 minutes and Newark arrival delays averaged out at 55 minutes.

Departure statistics were not much better. In the past six months 27% of flights departing JFK were late, 34% of flights departing LaGuardia were late and 26.5% for flights departing Newark. For departures, JFK averaged at 41 minutes late, LaGuardia departures were 53 minutes late and Newark were one hour and one minute late.

In the past year, most of these statistics have only gotten worse, and Schumer said today he expects the summer to be worse than is expected. For example, in April of 2005 Newark had 27.5% of its flights delayed, but in April of this year Newark showed over 34% of its flights delayed upon arrival. For departures, in April 2005 Newark had 17.5% of departures delayed, and in April of this year it had 25.7% of departures delayed. LaGuardia departure delays went up just under 5% in the year - last April 16% of flights were delayed departing, whereas in April of this year nearly 21% were delayed.

"Quality time with your family shouldn't be wasted sitting in a crowded airport or packed airplane," Schumer said. "Travelers spend hard earned money on summer vacations, they deserve better than unexplained, frustrating delays. Its time the waiting game becomes regulated."

These delays might seem like only minor inconveniences, but to travelers with a tight connecting flight schedule, business travelers with meetings to make and families trying to reach a loved on in need, these delays can have serious implications. Schumer said today that airlines need to be mindful of these travelers and must do everything in their power to keep travelers as informed as possible both in the airport and on the tarmac so that passengers can make adjustments to their schedules and keep their loved ones and colleagues up to speed on their new estimated arrival times.

Improving information to passengers about delays will mitigate at least some of the car and foot traffic at busy airports. Schumer believes that alerting passengers as soon as the delay becomes apparent will lead to calmer and more informed passengers, and will be of great help to airline employees and others working in the airport.

To combat this terrible inconvenience, Schumer today unveiled his bill, the Airline Travelers Late Awareness Act, which requires airlines to make delay information available to passengers upon receiving it or be subject to a penalty.

He also wrote the FAA, asking them to investigate different methods of informing airline passengers about delays and put together rules that would require the airlines to implement the most effective and expedited passenger alert program. In his letter he wrote, "There are many possible methods; phone messages, emails and text messages could all work. However, we need a standard method and procedure to follow so that the information is delivered as quickly and as accurately as possible."

The data released today suggests that New York's airports will only become more crowded with more New Yorkers spending more time waiting on airport tarmacs and standing in long lines.

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2006/PR208.NYC%20Flight%20Delays.061806.html