The FAA has extended a waiver that temporarily reduces the number of flights required at New York City-area airports and Washington National Airport through October 28 upon the request of several airlines that operate in New York area airports. The waiver was originally granted in March due to staffing shortages at the FAA's New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON).
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The FAA said it is working to address the staffing issues, but that it does not expect to be able to lift the waiver completely before October 28. Airlines have been able to reduce the number of flights they operate at these airports without losing their slots, which are valuable assets that allow them to take off and land at specific times.
This has helped to reduce congestion at the airports and improve on-time performance. The FAA has urged airlines to use larger planes to transport more passengers on fewer flights. This will help to reduce the number of flights that are required at the airports, and it will also help to improve fuel efficiency.
The FAA is working to address the staffing issues at TRACON, but it is a complex problem that will take time to solve. The waiver extension will provide some relief in the short term, but it is important for the FAA to find a long-term solution to the staffing shortages.