National Airspace System Longterm Capacity Planning Needed Despite Recent Reduction In Flight Delays

In recent years, airline flight delays have been among the most vexing problems in the national transportation system. They reached unprecedented levels in 2000, when one flight in four was delayed. Although bad weather has historically been the main cause of delays, a growing reason has been the inability of the nations air transport system to efficiently absorb all of the aircraft trying to use limited airspace or trying to take off or land at busy airports. Recent events most notably the terrorist attacks on buildings in New York City and Washington, D.C., using hijacked airliners, and the economic slowdown that preceded these attacks have changed the extent of the delay problem, at least for the short term. With many airlines cutting their flights by 20 percent or more, the air transport system is having less difficulty absorbing the volume of flights. Whether the volume of flights will continue at these lowered levels is unknown. However, it is likely that a more robust economy and less public apprehension about flying will lead to renewed demands on the air transport system. If so, concerns about delays and the actions being taken to address them may once again command national attention.

GAO-02-185 National Airspace System: Long-Term Capacity Planning Needed Despite Recent Reduction in Flight Delays

Flight delays have beset the U.S. national airspace system. In 2007, more than one-quarter of all flights either arrived late or were canceled across the system. The FAA is making substantial investments in transforming to a new air traffic control system -- the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) -- a system that is expected to reduce delays over the next decade. This report explains the extent to which: (1) flight delays in the U.S. national airspace system have changed since 2007 and the contributing factors to these changes; and (2) actions by the FAA are expected to reduce delays in the next 2 to 3 years. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.

More than 1 in 4 flights either arrived late or was canceled in `07 -- making it one of the worst years for delays in the last decade. Delays and cancellations were particularly evident at the 3 N.Y. airports -- Newark, Kennedy, and LaGuardia. To avoid a repeat of last summer¿s problems, DoT and the FAA developed and implemented several actions to reduce congestion and delays for the summer 2008 travel season. This testimony addresses: (1) the trends in the extent and principal sources of flight delays and cancellations over the last 10 years; (2) the status of fed. gov¿t. actions to reduce flight delays and cancellations; and (3) the extent to which these actions may reduce delays and cancellations for the summer 2008 travel season. Illustrations.