NEWS

Record Air Traffic for Memorial Day Holiday Air Traffic Control Delays Expected; Up 51% in April

Washington, DC - The trade group for leading U.S. airlines today predicted record numbers of passengers for the Memorial Day holiday but also warned of possible increased delays from the air traffic control system (ATC), saying that passengers should "be ready for delays imposed by an air traffic control system struggling with modernization."

The Air Transport Association (ATA) said that during the seven-day holiday period, Friday, May 28 will be the peak travel day, with over two million people flying, on planes that will be, on average, 85 percent full. Thursday, May 27 will be the next busiest day, with just slightly fewer passengers taking to the air. The busiest return-travel day will be Tuesday, June 1, with almost 1.9 million people traveling.

It will be the busiest Memorial Day ever and passengers need to be prepared for increased delays from the air traffic control system," said Carol B. Hallett, ATA president and CEO. "The system is safe, but delays from air traffic control were up a teeth-gritting 51% in April and passengers could see more of the same." In April of 1998, there were 22,563 ATC delays and in April 1999 there were 34,046. Increased delays have continued into May and are expected to follow the April trend.

A contributing factor to the increased delays is the Display System Replacement presently underway at some of the nation's air traffic control centers, including those in Chicago, Dallas and New York. This new technology is necessary and is supported by the airline industry, although its installation has caused numerous delays.

Air traffic control delays cost the U.S. economy $4.1 billion annually, so the FAA needs to increase the pace of modernization for the air traffic control system," continued Hallett. "Airline passengers should realize that the FAA faces a difficult task, in quickly resolving ATC problems. One reason that the airlines support congressional legislation to unlock the aviation trust fund is that this will give the FAA a predictable revenue stream to quickly move forward with improving air traffic control. That benefits every single passenger who flies in the United States," said Hallett.

According to the ATA, the following are the expected passenger totals for the Memorial Day holiday:

Date Passengers
(000) Percentage
of Full Seats

Wed.May 26 1,800 74.3%

Thurs.May 27 2,010 82.5%

Fri.May 28 2,060 84.3%

Sat.May 29 1,730 71.3%

Sun.May 30 1,490 61.2%

Mon.May 31 1,820 75.0 %

Tues.June 1 1,870 77.1%

The Air Transport Association is the trade association of leading U.S. airlines; ATA members carry over 95% of all the passenger and cargo traffic in the United States.

David Fuscus and Diana Cronan
12/30/1999