United Airlines is the latest to "de-peak" operations at congested Chicago O'Hare, as warnings sound over the delays issue across the USA.
United's decision follows the lead set by American Airlines two years ago as it tackled rising delays by creating "rolling hubs" at both Chicago O'Hare and Dallas/Fort Worth. United, the largest airline at O'Hare, says its decision to alter the schedules of about a quarter of its daily flights is only a first step to cutting delays and has called on competitors to help fight delays by doing the same.
Another suggestion to ease congestion at one of the nation's busiest airports comes from senator Dick Durbin, a democrat from Illinois. He wants the government temporarily to relax the antitrust rules barring airlines from discussing or co-ordinating schedules. Such proposals have been booted about for years as a way to trim schedules without losing a competitive edge. Last year's huge FAA bill specifically encourages such talks, which the FAA would oversee and that would be limited to O'Hare congestion.
The move comes as O'Hare emerged as the worst US airport for delays in 2003, according Ken Mead, inspector general at the Department of Transportation (DoT). Latest figures show that its on-time rate for arriving flights fell to 57% in November, while the next worst airport, Newark Liberty, recorded 71%.
Mead warns that increased airport and flight delays nationwide must regain the attention of the FAA, the DoT, congress and other regulators. "The effects of congestion in major hubs are likely to cascade into the rest of the system," he says. Mead's voice is alone in a universe of federal bodies that have made security their focal point, but he insists: "The FAA should proactively approach solutions to pre-empt the return of the same debilitating conditions experienced by system users in 2000."
Just over 300 of United's 1,300 daily O'Hare flights will be affected as flight times are changed by about 10 minutes to flatten spikes in arrivals and departures. United insists that its initiative is aimed at reducing delays rather than cutting costs, although the airline continues its cost-cutting efforts as it aims for a June exit from the bankruptcy reorganisation it entered in December 2002.
The airline plans to offer most workers cash rewards if it meets targets for customer service, on-time performance and profitability. It also plans profit-sharing in 2005. But United likely will not be able to seek further concessions from its pilots, according to incoming Air Line Pilots Association chairman Roger Bathurst.
American, which together with United operates more than 80% of the flights at O'Hare, "firewalled" its Chicago operations in late 2000 to prevent delays spreading across the network. That was followed by de-peaking, which smoothed out the schedule albeit at the price of some connectivity.
DAVID FIELD WASHINGTON
Source: Airline Business
