Weather and the airlines’ own scheduling practices continue to be the major causes of flight delays, and they won’t be fixed with user fees or a modernized air traffic control system, according to AOPA President Phil Boyer. In a news release, Boyer says a Department of Transportation study shows that 40 percent of flight delays are caused by weather and 25 percent by problems within the airlines themselves, such as maintenance problems, crew shortages, baggage delays and the like. AOPA dug deeper into the report to analyze the 28 percent of delays attributable to National Airspace System delays and found 17 airports where airlines over-schedule flights. Only severe weather counts for weather delays, but delays can be caused in IMC because there are actually more flights scheduled to operate out of those 17 airports than ATC can handle under instrument rules. The airlines have been trying to blame general aviation, particularly business aircraft, for the delays as part of the attempt to have Congress invoke user fees for turbine aircraft. Both houses will consider their bills on FAA reauthorization when they resume sitting after the August break.
AOPA Says DOT Study Proves GA Not To Blame For Delays
Key Takeaways:
- Flight delays are predominantly caused by weather (40%) and airlines' internal operational issues (25%), which are not addressed by user fees or modernizing air traffic control.
- AOPA found that 28% of National Airspace System delays are due to airlines over-scheduling flights at 17 airports, exceeding ATC capacity, especially in instrument conditions.
- Airlines are attempting to shift blame for delays to general aviation, particularly business aircraft, to push for the implementation of user fees on turbine aircraft.
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