The FAA is implementing a four phase plan to redesign the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia airspace, which should be completed by 2012. These changes should reduce delays, improve travel times, and service reliability.

NextGen is an important component of the FAA's plan to redesign the region's airspace and modernize the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. We must invest in this technology because we need more capacity to meet the current and projected demand for air travel. Physically expanding the airports will likely be part of the solution, but these technologies will help us get more capacity out of our existing facilities and reduce delays.

Congestion and delays have been mounting at New York's three major airports - Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK. According to a recent Newsday article, passengers are responding by using nearby airports, such as Long Island's MacArthur, instead. 

A recent Wall Street Journal article, "An Airline Report Card: Fewer Delays, Hassles Last Year, but Bumpy Times May Be Ahead", confirms Regional Plan Association's findings that flight delays declined in 2009 largely due to the recession, but will probably return worse than ever once the economy recovers. The article notes that Newark Airport beat LaGuardia Airport in 2009 for the spot as the "worst" airport in terms of delays.

RPA is working closely with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to develop a series of recommendations for ameliorating these delays in the New York region's airports. Join the Better Airports Alliance today to make sure your airports improve!