United Airlines To Stop Service at JFK Airport Temporarily
United Airlines Boeing 787s (9-10s) - Enda Burke - AirTeamImages.com
According to a Friday memo sent to United employees, the airline will temporarily suspend its service to John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York starting in late October 2022. "Given our current, too-small-to-be-competitive schedule out of JFK – coupled with the start of the Winter season where more airlines will operate their slots as they resume JFK flying – United has made the difficult decision to suspend service at JFK temporarily," the memo, which a United spokesperson emailed.
The Chicago-based airline's last flights to JFK are scheduled for October 29. The airline said it was "working with customers who have tickets after that date to make new arrangements." It did not specify when its service would resume at JFK.
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According to CNN, the airline has been negotiating with the FAA to acquire additional slots, or takeoff and landing authorizations, at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and advocating for the agency to update its assessment of the airport's capacity. The carrier said its discussions with the regulator have been constructive and that it is clear the FAA is serious about regional operational improvements.
The airline had previously 'threatened' to stop operating at JFK Airport for good, but in a memo sent to terminal employees stated that it was a "difficult decision" but that it intends to return in the future with the situation resolved: "The significance of JFK to our operation hasn't changed — we think New York customers deserve more choices, and robust United service to JFK is good for our customers, our employees and our airline," United said in the letter. "As a result, we will continue our pursuit of a bigger and more desirable schedule for our customers and be ready to seize those opportunities if and when they surface." - Says the note.
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The Star Alliance member airline currently operates four daily flights on two transcontinental routes to Los Angeles and San Francisco. United maintains a vital hub at New York's other airports, especially Newark (EWR).
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) operates two runways, averaging 81 movements/hour. The FAA said it is following a process of analyzing and reviewing slot requests for the terminal.
