American Airlines To Reduce Passenger Numbers This Summer

In an attempt to further reduce overcrowding, the Federal Aviation Administration said it would allow airlines to reduce flights at airports serving New York City and at Washington’s Reagan National Airport in an attempt to avoid disruptions. Additionally, airlines are reducing their reliance on regional feeder airlines, which service lower-demand routes. 

These changes must be effected immediately because the U.S. has a shortage of air-traffic controllers. While the Federal Aviation Administration looks to fix these issues in the long term, these measures are being implemented in the short term starting in April.

The FAA held a New York airspace summit with airlines and others to discuss additional ways to improve the country’s most complex and congested airspace in late March. It was similar to the one hosted in Florida last year that resulted in measures to improve efficiency in another high-demand area, the agency shared.

And it also makes sense to be proactive when it comes to heading off potential problems. That’s something the Federal Aviation Administration has been aggressive about in New York, one of the nation’s busiest airport markets. What happens at New York City’s three nearby airports, JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark, affects not only people flying in and out of the New York area, It has a ripple effect on air travel around the country. That’s at least partly why the Federal Aviation Administration has gotten involved. 

“The FAA is taking several steps to keep air travel to and from New York City this summer safe and smooth, even as we see strong domestic demand and a return of pre-pandemic international traffic,” the agency said in a news release. “To help prevent disruptions, the agency will give airlines flexibility on slot usage requirements. In turn, the FAA expects airlines to take actions minimizing impacts on passengers, including operating larger aircraft to transport more passengers and making sure passengers are fully informed about any possible disruptions.”

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In line with the FAA’s requirements, a number of American airlines have slashed their flights out of New York and Washington. However, this is not the only step the FAA has taken.

The Federal Aviation Administration in a news statement stated,  “Although the FAA continues to reduce the air traffic controller training backlog at many FAA air traffic facilities, staffing levels at the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (N90) continue to be below targets. To maintain safety and meet demand, the agency will reassign approximately 100 square miles of Newark airspace later this year from N90 to the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control.”

Following this directive, all passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines prior to travelling to confirm if these changes have affected their travel reservations and adjust accordingly.