The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a series of measures to reduce congestion at New York's LaGuardia airport. Raising prices may be the only way to control congestion at the nation's most overcrowded airport, New York's LaGuardia International Airport. The airport had by far the worst record for delays of any U.S. airport in 2000, with 16 percent of flights delayed. The congestion causes problems across the nation, because delays at LaGuardia can affect flights at as many as 70 other airports. Airlines routinely overschedule flights at LaGuardia and many other airports.
Congestion pricing is designed to spread passenger demand through the day.
However, LaGuardia is so busy that peak time lasts all day, from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m., leaving few hours in the day for off-peak travel. LaGuardia is increasingly clogged with smaller jets carrying fewer than 80 passengers each. It may encourage people, it may encourage airlines to move to larger aircraft. Airlines are adamantly opposed to the FAA's proposals, saying they would ration air service and gouge consumers. The proposals would go into effect in 2002.