The Federal Aviation Administration has now officially ended its pandemic-era international slot waiver program at congested U.S. airports like New York Kennedy. Might this be the way United Airlines can permanently return to JFK?
Will Elimination Of International Slot Waivers At JFK Open Up Space For United Airlines?
United Airlines ended its service to JFK over the weekend, blaming its inability to scale up its operations there beyond two flights per day to its California hubs.
“The reason is simple: without permanent slots, we can’t serve JFK effectively compared to the larger schedules and more attractive flight times flown by our competitors. For example, JetBlue currently flies to Los Angeles six times more often from JFK than United does and American flies there more than four times as frequently.”
The route suspension came after an ultimatum to the FAA concerning slot allocations. United reasoned that the airport infrastructure updates should mean more slots, using the FAA to “expand and provide consumers a more competitive JFK offering.” The FAA declined and United is now out of the market (again).
But good news could be around the corner for United after the FAA denied a petition to extend international slot waivers. Those waivers expired Saturday and the FAA now has the authority to revoke underutilized slot pairs at a number of airports including:
- Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
- John F. Kennedy (JFK)
- LaGuardia (LGA)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Newark Liberty (EWR)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- San Francisco (SFO)
(only LGA, JFK, and DCA have actual slot controls, but the FAA utilization orders impacts all seven airports above)
The FAA says this is “to encourage high utilization of scarce public infrastructure.”
First, what will happen to Aeroflot’s slots at JFK? The Russian flag carrier ran up to three flights per day between New York and Moscow prior to the invasion of Ukraine. Will those be forfeited?
How about Mainland China, which continues to pursue a “zero-COVID” policy? In terms of China, any continued slot waiver for Chinese airlines will be based upon reciprocity:
“The FAA recognizes that relief may be appropriate in consideration of reciprocal treatment of air carriers and foreign air carriers with various alleviation policies at foreign airports related to restrictions and recovery from COVID–19 impacts. The FAA intends to work closely with the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) in reviewing requests for relief based on foreign government restrictions or reciprocity. To the extent that U.S. carriers operate to jurisdictions that do not offer reciprocal relief to U.S. carriers, the FAA may determine not to grant a waiver to carriers of that jurisdiction.”
Meanwhile, United is watching closely, hoping for an opening.
CONCLUSION
The FAA has officially ended its international slot waiver program. While some exceptions may continue to be granted for airlines impacted by government travel restrictions, carriers at New York JFK must now use their slots or lose them. Enforcement of this rule may represent an opportunity for United Airlines to return to JFK and offer more than just four flights per day.
Pictures or it didn’t happen!
Time for Scott Kirby to dig in now!
You better believe it, Jared!
Everyone knew Scott Kirby and Andrew Nocella would figure out a way to get back into JFK. Whether it be from this or another way, it is bound to happen sooner rather than later.
All I ask is please don’t put the 757s back on this route when you resume it! If you want to be competitive and dominant, it needs to be a 767, 777, or 787.
Given there is no 767 base at LAX or SFO, the 777 or 787 makes the most sense.
Also, let’s get a real lounge in JFK, no more Alaska club!
In what way is the Alaska Lounge not superior to a United Club?
Great Idea ,Pete. I’d go with the 777 or 787 to the west coast. Possibly also return the London and Tokoyo service .
I think when it was initially launched (sfo and lax-Jfk), or should I saw relaunched, it was with a 767-300 low J if I remember correctly, but was downgraded to 757-200 likely due to weak demand.
Correct.
It was launched with a 767 high J.
IAD is the #1 option for MANY reasons for UAL international flights…
UA will still face some challenges at JFK. It needs frequencies equivalent to around 6 or 7 daily nonstops a day each to SFO and LAX to be relevant. It needs a lounge, and it needs to find a terminal where it can operate from. The pickings are slim. With BA moving out of T7, it can probably create a lounge in the Terraces Lounge space, but that would cost a lot of money for a short term solution. T7 will be demolished. T1 can’t accommodate domestic arrivals and at peak times, it is a mess. Unlikely to be space at T4 and I just don’t see operating from T8. UA also needs a better plane and product than the 757s.
Give the Aeroflot slots to Kirby.