FAA: Initiatives under way to reduce flight delays

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The head of the Federal Aviation Administration told a Senate committee Thursday her agency is working through a list of initiatives designed to bring greater efficiency to U.S. airspace.

"We have completed work on 11 of those 21 initiatives," FAA Administrator Jane Garvey told the Senate Commerce Committee. "Those specifically address the congested airspace around New York and New Jersey. As a result, the westbound and northbound traffic out of New York are experiencing fewer delays."

The FAA has been testing new routes that would allow aircraft to fly at lower altitudes between 300 pairs of cities. "We think by separating the flights in that way we can maintain far greater efficiency in the system," Garvey said.

ON THE SCENE CNN's Bob Franken has more on the hearings     RESOURCE FAA offers free wireless access to airport delay data     MESSAGE BOARD Have you had any travel troubles lately?

Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Montana, accused the FAA of having a "lack of commitment" to getting systems into place to improve airport delays. He also charged that no one is being held accountable.

"I think you got a cultural problem that [the airlines] just don't give a damn, and I really hate to say that because we ask the same questions and we get the same results every year since I've been in the United States Senate." Burns was elected to the Senate in 1988.

Garvey promised she is taking the issue "very seriously" and said, "You certainly have my commitment."

A bill sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, would require airlines to inform customers promptly in the event of a flight delay and would require the airlines to make greater accommodations for them during delays. It would also require airlines to tell customers at the time of booking whether their flight is chronically late.

The legislation has the backing of the airline industry.

Cooperation on flight scheduling

Also Thursday, the Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was considering a bill that would allow airlines to cooperate on flight scheduling without violating anti-trust laws.

The legislation aims to coordinate airline schedules in an effort to reduce flight delays and allow the system to run more smoothly.

Flight delays are a common problem. According to the inspector general of the Department of Transportation, in 2000, one out four flights was delayed, canceled or diverted, affecting 163 million passengers. In all, 1,234 flights a day were delayed or canceled. Nearly 73 percent of the flights were on time, which means more than a quarter of the flights were not.

Fingers of blame point in every direction. The airlines blame the air traffic control system and the weather, while government officials blame the airlines and their hub-and-spoke system that filters tens of thousands of airline passengers into large airports in Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, New York City, and Denver.

The hearings come at a time of extreme frustration inside and outside the industry. The airlines fear the frustration could lead to re-regulation.

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Federal Aviation Administration
U.S.Department of Transportation

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