ATA offers solutions to chronic delays

The Air Transport Association of America’s president and CEO James C. May has testified before the House Committee’s aviation subcommittee on the progress airlines are making in solving the delays that have plagued American airports these past few years. May blames two things on the sad state, one being the weather, the other being an ineffectual and outdates Air Traffic Control System.

May spoke out by saying, “The majority of flight delays are due to weather and an aging air traffic control system. We cannot fix the weather, but we can fix the broken ATC system. No one hates delays more than the airlines. Delays cost the industry $9 billion annually. Contrary to claims, airlines do care about their customers and are not satisfied with the status quo.

Airlines are responding to this growing flight delay problem by de-peaking schedules and closely monitoring operations in order to minimize lengthy delays. They recognize that when delays do occur, airlines have an obligation to better serve their customers.”

Talk of the ageing ATC system has been circulating for some time, and many of the industry’s problems can be solved if the initial steps are taken to improve the ATC system to better manage incoming and outgoing planes.

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