The FAA is warning flyers of a 45% increase in flight delays this summer in NYC and DC as it deals with staff shortage
- The FAA anticipates a 45% increase in flight delays at East Coast airports in the summer of 2023.
- The agency is blaming a post-pandemic shortage of air traffic controllers at key New York facilities.
The Federal Aviation Administration is predicting a 2023 summer season ridden with delays for East Coast airports.
The agency expects overall delays in the New York region to increase 45% in the coming months compared to summer 2022, according to a recent press release.
The delays will come as airlines are predicted to increase operations at New York airports to service the busiest travel season of the year, and post-pandemic staffing shortages at airports persist.
Last summer saw over 40,000 delays recorded at the New York area airports and the highest yearly percentage of delayed flights of the past seven years.
Part of the reason for the delays is that, since the pandemic, there haven't been enough air traffic controllers at New York airports, which limits their ability to respond to airlines' needs quickly.
The lack of air traffic controllers goes hand in hand with a shortage of pilots and maintenance workers.
To try and soften the problem, the FAA will waive some of its slot rules at airports in New York City and Washington, DC from May to September. It will allow carriers to turn in up to 10% of the slots they hold for takeoffs or landings at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airports, as well as Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in DC. The agency will also let airlines cut 10% of their approved operating timing at Newark Liberty International Airport
The measure is intended to give airlines more wiggle room to reduce operations during the peak travel time of summer.
The FAA issued a similar waiver last year.
Usually, at airports like JFK, LaGuardia, and Ronald Reagan, carriers must use their allocated slots at least 80% of the time, or they risk losing them. The rule is in place to make sure the precious space is used as efficiently as possible.
The airline's response to the waiver has been positive. Delta told CNBC it is "committed to working with the FAA," and United said it will seek a waiver for some of its slots.