Unused military air space to become 'express lane'Story Highlights
Unused military airspace will be opened to commercial flights
The FAA will ensure that air traffic facilities are well staffed
Proposed regulations would double bump fees
The airline industry's on-time performance is at a record low this year
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ahead of the holiday travel crunch, President Bush ordered steps Thursday to reduce air traffic congestion and long delays that have left passengers stranded.
President Bush outlined a plan to reduce air traffic congestion on Thursday.
The most significant change is that the Pentagon will open unused military airspace from Florida to Maine to create "a Thanksgiving express lane" for commercial airliners. It will be open next week for five days -- Wednesday through Sunday -- for the busiest days of Thanksgiving travel.
"This will help mitigate congestion and provide opportunities for the planes to keep on schedule," White House press secretary Dana Perino said. The change also will be in effect during the Christmas travel season.
She also said the Federal Aviation Administration was imposing a holiday moratorium on nonessential maintenance projects, allowing all FAA personnel and equipment to be focused on keeping flights on time.
Further, the Department of Transportation will propose doubling the bump fee that airlines must pay to travelers who buy tickets but wind up without a seat. The penalty now is $200 or $400, depending on how long the passenger has been inconvenienced. The proposed increase would make the fee $400 to $800.
Further, officials said the FAA would take other steps to increase efficiency such as rerouting airspace, using technology to fill unused space in the air and on the ground, and using more precise routes for takeoffs and landings.
Another proposed rule would deem the operation of a chronically delayed flight -- defined as a flight that operates more than 15 minutes late more than 70 percent of the time -- to be an "unfair and deceptive practice." That designation carries with it substantial monetary penalties.
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Bush announced the action at the White House with Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Bobby Sturgell, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Domestic carriers are expected to fly roughly 27 million passengers worldwide over 12 days beginning November 16, with planes about 90 percent full, according to the Air Transport Association.
Several airline executives, testifying before the House Transportation Committee Thursday on holiday travel prospects, said they were preparing to care for passengers in the event of weather or air traffic control-related delays.
Jetblue Airways CEO Dave Barger acknowledged that "we let our customers down" last February when hundreds of passengers were stranded on parked JetBlue planes for up to 10 1/2 hours. "In fact, to be candid, we failed them."
He said that with added deicing equipment and crew and expanded customer service personnel, "JetBlue is ready for the holidays."
But Rep. John Mica, R-Florida, said there was "some very bad news for people who think there is going to be a quick cure to congestion." He said that even if everything went smoothly, implementation of the next-generation air traffic control system that should reduce disruptions was at least 15 years off.
Bush, on September 27, announced that his administration was looking at ways to reduce air traffic congestion. The president urged Congress to look at legislation to modernize the FAA, and instructed Peters to report back to him quickly about ways to ensure that air passengers are treated appropriately and progress is made to ease congestion.
Peters said at the time she was asking airlines to meet to formulate a plan to improve scheduling at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, one of the nation's busiest. If no solution is found, she said, the department is prepared to issue a scheduling reduction order.
Congestion is not the only problem for air travelers.
A report made public Wednesday said government investigators smuggled liquid explosives and detonators past airport security, exposing a dangerous hole in the nation's ability to keep these forbidden items off of airplanes. E-mail to a friend
