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JFK Airport Bay Runway Project Facts and Information
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The Port Authority of NY & NJ is tackling delays with the reconstruction of the Bay Runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Once completed, this project will reduce delays overall by an estimated 10,500 hours per year. What is the Bay Runway Project? Beginning March 1, 2010 one of the four runways at JFK will be closed for construction for 120 days; however this project should not impact travel significantly. Why is the Bay Runway Project necessary? The project will upgrade JFK’s airside infrastructure, widen and replaces nearly three miles of runway. A central component of the Bay Runway reconstruction is the widening of the runway from 150 to 200 feet to make way for new delay-reduction taxiways. The new taxiways will improve aircraft queuing and enable swifter departures; and easier access from taxiways to terminal gates, saving time on the ground for every passenger at JFK. How many runways are at JFK? There are four runways at JFK. During normal operations, two or three of the four runways are in use due to airspace limitations. During the 120-day closure of the Bay Runway, all three remaining runways will be utilized when possible. How will flights be affected when the Bay Runway is closed? Airlines are operating on a normal winter schedule to mitigate delays. Delays may occur from time to time, but this is a short-term inconvenience to provide a long-term fix. What are some of the benefits of the Bay Runway Project?
For more information, click here. |
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New Body Scanners to Debut in Two Airports
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The U.S. government's plan to install 150 new full-body scanners this year in airports around the country will start with Boston. According to a recent report by the Associated Press, a Homeland Security official said three machines are scheduled to be installed in Logan International Airport sometime the first week of March. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, since a formal announcement has not yet been made by the government. Chicago’s O’Hare will be the next airport to receive a machine, with one scheduled to be installed within the next two weeks. The 150 machines, which were purchased with $25 million from President Obama’s 2009 stimulus plan, are expected to be installed in airports across the country by the end of June, and more are on the way. The new scanners will be the first sign of the Obama administrations $1 billion commitment to airport screening, announced last February. In May 2009, $25 million was allocated exclusively for the machines, after which the government collected and reviewed proposals for the construction of the scanners, according to AP. According to the Homeland Security official, the Boston and Chicago airports were chosen based on risk, ease of installation, and availability of screener staffing. Currently 40 full-body scanners are in operation at 19 U.S. airports including:
For more information, click here. |
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TSA Expands Use of Explosive Trace Detection Technology at Airports Nationwide
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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that it is expanding the random use of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) technology at airports nationwide as an additional layer of security. “Explosive Trace Detection technology is a critical tool in our ability to stay ahead of evolving threats to aviation security,” said TSA Acting Administrator Gale Rossides. “Expanding the use of this technology at checkpoints and at departure gates greatly enhances security to keep the traveling public safe.” TSA piloted the use of ETD technology in both the checkpoint queue and boarding areas for two weeks at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Pitt-Greenville and Coastal Carolina Regional Airports in North Carolina. Passengers can now expect to see the increased random use of ETD technology in areas where TSA currently conducts screening such as the security checkpoint, as well as in the checkpoint queue, and boarding areas. Officers may swab a piece of luggage or passengers’ hands, then use ETD technology to test for explosives. The swab is placed inside the ETD unit which analyzes the content for the presence of potential explosive residue. To ensure the health of travelers, screening swabs are disposed of after each use. Since it will be used on a random basis, passengers should not expect to see the same thing at every airport or each time they travel. For more information, click here. |
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Airline On-Time Performance Improves in 2009 as Rate of Mishandled Baggage Decreases
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The nation’s largest airlines had an on-time performance rate in 2009 that was their best since 2003, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). In addition, the report shows that the carriers’ rate of mishandled baggage last year was the lowest recorded since 2004. According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the 19 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 79.5 percent in 2009, an improvement over 2008’s rate of 76.0 and the best annual record since the 82.0 percent on-time rate of 2003. In addition, the carriers recorded a mishandled baggage rate of 3.91 per 1,000 passengers in 2009, an improvement over 2008's 5.26 and the best mark for a calendar year since the rate of 3.84 recorded in 2002. December On-Time Performance The carriers recorded an on-time performance rate of 72.0 percent in December 2009, an improvement over December 2008’s 65.3 percent but down from November 2009’s 88.6 mark, which was the highest on-time rate since comparable data was first collected in 1995. Cancellations The consumer report includes BTS data on the number of domestic flights canceled by the reporting carriers. In December, the carriers canceled 2.8 percent of their scheduled domestic flights, lower than the 3.3 percent rate recorded in December 2008 but above November 2009’s rate of 0.5. Tarmac Delays In December, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that .007 percent of their scheduled flights had tarmac delays of three hours or more, a lower rate than December 2008’s .0343 percent but higher than November 2009’s .00079 percent. There was one flight with a tarmac delay of four hours or more in December. Causes of Flight Delays In December, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that 8.57 percent of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared to 3.91 percent in November; 8.63 percent by late-arriving aircraft, compared to 3.23 percent in November; 6.62 percent by factors within the airline’s control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared to 3.39 percent in November; 1.05 percent by extreme weather, compared to 0.20 percent in November; and 0.08 percent for security reasons, compared to 0.01 percent in November. Weather is a factor in both the extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays due to the re-routing of flights by DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration in consultation with the carriers involved. Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft, although airlines do not report specific causes in that category. Data collected by BTS also shows the percentage of late flights delayed by weather, including those reported in either the category of extreme weather or included in National Aviation System delays. In December, 45.30 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, down 0.13 percent from December 2008, when 45.36 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, and up 35.51 percent from November when 33.43 percent of late flights were delayed by weather. December Mishandled Baggage U.S. carriers reporting flight delays and mishandled baggage data posted a mishandled baggage rate of 5.18 reports per 1,000 passengers in December, down from December 2008’s 6.96 rate but higher than November 2009’s all-time record low mark of 2.78. Detailed information on flight delays and their causes is available on the BTS site on the World Wide Web at http://www.bts.gov. |
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Airline on-time performance
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in December '09 decreased to 72.0%, down 7.5 points vs. the running 12 month average of 79.5% and down 16.6 points from November’s 88.6%. To view the USDOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Air Travel Consumer Report, click here. |
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Travel Alerts (www.travel.state.gov)
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The United States Government has posted recent travel advisories and warnings for Afghanistan, Algeria, Burundi, Chad, Colombia, Cote d’lvoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Kenya, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uzbekistan, and Yemen. |
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