City Comptroller William Thompson discusses a report assessing the environmental and economic impacts of airport congestion on the three New York City area airports. (Photo by Marla S. Maritzer)
In Good Times a Boon, In Bad a BustBy Shane Miller
Delays at the metropolitan area's three major airports are increasing, and according to a report released over the weekend the problem is only going to get worse if major changes aren't made.
According to City Comptroller William Thompson, the benefits of New York's access to air connections are being quickly diminished because of longer waiting times at all of the area's airports.
"This advantage is now being degraded by the declining reliability of air travel into and out of New York," said Thompson.
According to the comptroller, on-time performance at all major New York airports - LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark - was about five percentage points below the national average in 2003. That has since risen to 13 points.
Additionally, the time between when a plane boards and actually takes off has increased several times more in New York compared with the rest of the country, and the three area airports have the highest flight cancellation rates.
Thompson claims this can be attributed to several factors, including an antiquated air traffic control system, mismanagement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and over-scheduling of flights during peak hours.
Thompson warned that a decline in reliability could begin to harm the city's economy.
"It could discourage employers from locating new jobs and facilities in New York and encourage some firms to relocate jobs elsewhere," he said.
A Citizens Budget Commission study in 2001 placed the city nearly last in economic competitiveness out of the 13 major metropolitan areas, based in part on poor airline on-time performance. Thompson said that situation has only deteriorated.
Not only affecting passengers, flight delays also have a negative impact on businesses shipping cargo by air through New York, the comptroller added.
Thompson called on the FAA to prioritize area airports for a new air traffic control system. The agency is installing new GPS-based systems, which will help controllers track aircraft more efficiently, in four regions by the year 2010. New York will have to wait until 2013.
Thompson also urged the FAA to solve long-standing disputes with the air traffic controllers' union so that more controllers can be employed.
Environmental Impacts
The area's airports aren't only adversely affecting business and vacation plans, they are also taking their toll on the environment.
Between 2000 and 2006, the three big airports added 70,000 additional takeoffs and landings, which in turn produced significantly higher levels of organic compounds that create ozone. New York City already exceeds the federal air quality standards for ozone.
"The entire city should be concerned about the impact of more chemical deicers and other pollutants flowing into Jamaica Bay because of the increase in flights at Kennedy Airport," warned Thompson.
The comptroller supports market-based landing fees, which would charge airlines - and ultimately customers - more to operate and take flights during peak hours. While some flights may cost more, Thompson said that market-based fees, as revealed in a 2005 study, could result in savings of $256.8 million per year at JFK alone.
The fees, Thompson added, could be structured to encourage the use of lower-emission aircraft as well.
Queens undoubtedly benefits the most, but also suffers proportionately, from being home to both of the airports within New York City limits. Borough President Helen Marshall praised the comptroller for issuing the report.
"I have always been a champion of the airports," she said, "however, I have demanded that attention be paid to the needs of Queens residents who live near airports and under flight paths."
Marshall said that she supports capping the number of flights, as well as encouraging more environmentally friendly aircraft.
"Aircraft noise has been at least as significant a problem as aircraft emissions, and we have to try to keep the number of flights soaring over communities at a reasonable level," she said.
