Shock and anger permeated through Borough Hall on Monday, as Queens Borough President Claire Shulman learned of a plan that could add hundreds of flights to LaGuardia Airports already jam packed runways.
Under "Air 21," a new federal law passed by President Bill Clinton on April 5, newly built regional jets with 70 seats or fewer will have unrestricted access at LaGuardia and Kennedy airports. The new legislation, intended to lower airline ticket prices throughout the nation, creates a loophole in the high density rule, which had limited the number of flights that can fly from and land at congested traffic areas. In fact, in airports outside of New York, no limit has been placed on the number of jets, no matter the size, that can fly in and out of airports.
Flying
"I had no idea about the magnitude of planes that would be coming in and out at LaGuardia Airport," Shulman told The Queens Courier. The Borough President added that a significant number of flights will now be forced to take off in the early morning hours, disturbing the sleep of many Jackson Heights residents. "There has to be a balance within the best interests of the community," said Shulman. "I am going to try and curb this."
In response to the new laws, Continental and Delta Airlines announced recently they would supplement their schedule with a number of additional flights at LaGuardia Airport. Under the new law passed last Friday by the Department of Transportation each airline is allowed up to 20 additional slots using the new Stage 3 regional jets.
However, to this date, the airlines have only applied for a total of 73 quiet aircraft slot exemptions. None yet has been granted.
"Residents around LaGuardia know their skies should be quieter still," said Congressman Anthony Weiner. "But, without the Queens Delegation-backed provisions of Air 21, unlimited numbers of noisy jumbo jets would be polluting our airspace today."
Currently, an estimated 500 planes take off and land each day at LaGuardia. The flight expansion plan, the largest in many decades, could more than double that number. Bill Cahill, spokesman for the Port Authority, which operates the airport, said LaGuardias runways can handle 85 flights per hour. Potentially, the regional jets would need to secure a time slot from the Port Authority before the planes could take off and land.
"The fact is, LaGuardia has two small intersecting runways," said Cahill. "Because of the physical constraints, if you schedule more flights, the by-product is going to be many delays."
Cahill said, "The Port Authority is and always has been opposed to lifting the flat restrictions" in place since 1969, due to concerns about delays, noise, pollution, and congestion. The spokesman added that although the Port Authority has no direct control over the number of flights the airlines can schedule, they would be negotiating with the carriers to minimize the congestion and make the plan more conceivable.
United Community Civic Association President Rose Marie Poveromo worries that with the new legislation, the High Density Rule has become meaningless. "We are already suffering from excessive air and ground traffic," said Poveromo. "LaGuardia is a toxic generator of noise and pollution for thousands of people who live in the homes near the airport."
Alan Green, vice-president of governmental affairs for Sane Aviation For Everyone (SAFE) is upset, but not surprised by the recent developments at LaGuardia. SAFE sent a letter to Clinton last month pleading with the President to veto Air 21 because of the potentially harmful pollutants the jets would disseminate over Queens. "This is only the beginning," said Green. "Any time the planes go overhead, we are getting fumigated. We are the sacrificial lambs, and our human rights are getting violated."
Proponents of the new plan have stated that only newer, and quieter Stage 3 jets, which are an estimated 50 percent quieter will be eligible for the expanded service. However, Green said even light-weight regional jets will be a disturbance to the community not only near LaGuardia, but near Kennedy Airport as well. "This plan sounds great because it will increase competition between the airlines, but at what price?" said Green. "There has to be a balance between the economy and the publics health."
Last week, Newsday projected that 300 additional flights would be added to LaGuardia within the year. However, Congressman Gary Ackerman, one of the key New York Democrats responsible for the regional jet clause in Air 21, believes that number is impossible. "The airlines are jockeying politically, so that no other carriers can get the time slots," said Ackerman. "The planes would be backed up, and would not be able to leave. "The airlines dont even own that many planes."
A federal source who requested anonymity described the worst -case scenario for commuters. "The regional jets could hold up many of the major airlines at the gate." Consequently, the source added, the airline operators could get frustrated with Kennedy and LaGuardia and potentially move their business to New Jerseys Newark Airport. The result for Queens, could be the loss of millions of dollars in revenue.
