Feds to commit $89 million for capacity improvements at JFK airport

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced that FAA will commit $89 million towards capacity improvements at JFK Airport. The funding will be used towards constructing two new taxiways, extending or improving six others and creating new high-speed exit taxiways. Secretary Peters said "the taxiway work will make it easier for aircraft to maneuver between gates and the airport’s runways, cutting travel time and limiting delays."

In addition to the funding, Secretary Peters also announced plans to introduce final rules to auction landing and take-off slots (reservation to take off or land) at JFK, La Guardia and Newark Liberty International airport. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the entity responsible for management and maintenance of the three airports claimed that the Bush administration is wrong to impose auctioning and would seek an injunction from the U. S. Court of Appeals.

FAA's plan to auction off landing slots has been highly unpopular among key members of congress, the governors of New York and New Jersey and the Air Transport Association. A recent GAO study concluded that FAA lacks authority to auction off landing slots. Despite these opposition, Secretary Peters has issued final rules to auction airline slots at the New York metropolitan area airports .