Federal transportation officials' suggestion that fewer flights could lead to fewer delays at Kennedy Airport met with mixed reviews there yesterday, sparking debate over which would better serve customers.
"I think having the number of flights reduced would be very inconvenient," said Ramon Tavarez of Queens, who was waiting for family to arrive from the Dominican Republic. "I think we are going to have to pay a higher cost for less delays."
Others, like Mark Mifflin of Connecticut, who was catching a flight to Canada, liked the idea better. "Delays can totally mess up our travel," he said. "If it helps congestion and makes [airlines] more reliable, it makes sense."
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation said Kennedy should not try to handle more than 80 takeoffs or landings per hour. Right now, Kennedy handles up to 100 flights an hour.
Federal officials are planning to meet with the airlines on the proposal this week and say they hope to come up with a mutually agreeable solution.
Officials from a group that represents commercial air carriers and the Port Authority, which runs Kennedy, have been critical of the proposal.
Passengers, however, were not quite so quick to condemn.
"The question is: Would it drive up cost?" said Maggie Hobstetter of Manhattan, who had just arrived from Detroit. "JFK is very convenient and if it means we would have to fly through LaGuardia, I don't know. But delays are obviously a pain and something has to be done."
"It would be great if they can do something about it," said Ayana Swann, who was flying home to Bermuda after visiting family in Queens. "It could be very irritating to wait long hours, especially when you have children."
In August, only 59 percent of arrivals and 63 percent of departures at Kennedy were on time, according to the Transportation Department.
Frank Kottkamp, who was visiting from Germany, offered another solution: "Why not make the airport bigger?" he asked. "I think that would be a better solution."
Staff writer Steve Ritea contributed to this story.
