Latest news with #HenryHarteveldt
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Budget airlines contributing to passenger boom at NYC-area regional airports
Traffic is really taking off at two regional airports north of New York City. Budget airlines are powering the growth in passengers. On a random Tuesday afternoon, Westchester County Airport was a busy place. Frequent flier Jill Forrester said she has noticed a big increase in passenger volume. "I have. The waiting room is always packed. There's not a lot of places to sit down. That's why we're up here in the observation tower. It's just a little bit quieter," Forrester said. Read more: Newark Airport experiences another air traffic control outage Why the boom in passengers at regional airports Airport statistics show Westchester County handled 1.5 million passengers in 2017, but in 2024 that increased to 2.3 million. At Tweed Airport in New Haven, a Hearst Connecticut Media study found passenger traffic is up tenfold since 2019. With traffic way up, Tweed is looking at a big expansion, more than doubling the current terminal space. At both airports, traffic is rising since the debut of service by budget airlines such as Avelo and Breeze. "Avelo and Breeze have built routes out of Westchester and Tweed airports to places that people want to go, mostly leisure-focused destinations, and they are charging fares that are potentially more reasonably priced than some of the other airlines that have served those cities," travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt said. Asked for comment about passenger volume, Westchester County, which is always sensitive to complaints about airport noise, provided a statement from spokeswoman Catherine Cioffi. "While more passengers are moving through HPN, the number of enplanements hasn't increased dramatically. What we are seeing in 2025 is a shift toward larger, more efficient and quieter aircraft, meaning more people per flight, not more flights overall. This is not a surge in air traffic. This is simply smarter, more streamlined air travel. The number of planes in the sky remains stable," Cioffi said. "That said, anyone who has been to the HPN terminal knows it's time for an upgrade, which is why the county issued a Request for Proposals to modernize the terminal at Westchester County Airport. Our objective is to identify a consultant who will work closely with the county to develop distinct design concepts for consideration. Each will focus on enhancing the overall airport experience for passengers. This is not expansion. It's about being able to offer essentials: a seat, a cup of coffee and a bathroom. We are committed to a transparent and competitive process that puts the needs of our residents and travelers first. It's also worth noting that commercial flights make up only about 30% of total takeoffs at HPN," Cioffi added. There is a drawback to the regional airports, analyst says The budget airline destinations include smaller markets in Florida and hotspots such as Myrtle Beach and Charleston, South Carolina, but with limited schedules compared to major airlines Harteveldt says budget travelers need to be aware. "If your flights are delayed or cancelled, your options are going to be limited to get you to your destination, whether you are on your way to a vacation or on your way back home," Harteveldt said. Breeze is expanding aggressively in the region, also adding service at MacArthur Airport on Long Island and Stewart Airport in Orange County.
Mint
23-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
United Airlines has few viable alternatives to congested Newark Airport
Despite problems, Newark remains United's primary hub Analyst trims United earnings forecast, citing Newark cuts United plans to use Boeing 737-800 at LaGuardia for more seats United wants to return to JFK but has hurdles acquiring slots CHICAGO, May 23 (Reuters) - Newark Liberty International Airport is one of the largest hubs of United Airlines, and the congested airport is also the Chicago-based carrier's biggest operational challenge. The company told 1.5 million customers in a note on Thursday that congestion at Newark has eased since it reduced flights there. United also backed the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's decision to limit flights there, calling it "good news" for its customers. But reduced flights are expected to hurt the company's revenue and drive up operating costs. United CEO Scott Kirby has acknowledged the disruptions at Newark will hurt, even though the carrier has been using bigger jets to minimize the revenue hit. The airline has few viable alternative airports in the Northeastern U.S., according to analysts and company officials, so there is pressure to find a way to make Newark work, and United has some ideas. It is also considering options such as increasing seats on flights at New York City's LaGuardia Airport. But LaGuardia is slot-controlled, making it difficult to add flights there. Company executives say they plan to deploy Boeing 737-800s at LaGuardia in place of Airbus A320s to fly more passengers, but swapping aircraft will require changes to crew schedules which cannot happen until July. Also, United has been seeking a way to return to New York's JFK airport. Analysts say this can relieve some traffic in and out of Newark, particularly flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco. But capacity at JFK is constrained, so United needs to acquire takeoff and landing slots at the airport, where the carrier stopped service in 2022 after failing to acquire sufficient slots to effectively compete. Delta Air Lines, JetBlue and American Airlines are the top three U.S. carriers at JFK, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. To regain a foothold, United must negotiate with the FAA or acquire slots from one of those three. United is negotiating a partnership with JetBlue, Reuters reported last month. This could ease United's return to JFK. Still, JFK would serve as a secondary airport for United, said Henry Harteveldt, founder of travel consultancy Atmosphere Research Group. "Newark would remain United's primary New York metro market hub," he said. The New Jersey airport feeds traffic to United's domestic and international flights. The company has an option to build its hub at Washington Dulles for domestic and international connections, easing its strain at Newark. But the Dulles market lacks Newark's revenue potential, said Robert Mann, a former airline executive who runs a consulting firm. Network realignment is also risky, as a misstep can have an outsize impact on revenue, he added. "Newark is a much better location for a hub from a demand perspective, from a revenue perspective." Mann said. "I would figure out how to make Newark work." Company officials say Newark is "critical" in the airline's network as United not only uses it to serve international destinations, but also to transport a lot of international cargo. United responded to a Reuters request for comment by saying the FAA's decision to limit the number of flights at Newark would help it "safely and reliably operate the flights that remain on the schedule." On Thursday, the airline told customers it had canceled less than 1% of its flights out of Newark on eight of the past 11 days. "We'll operate fewer daily flights this summer compared to last year," wrote Jon Gooda, vice president for United's Newark hub. Analysts at Seaport Research Partners estimate Newark accounts for 16.5% of United's departures and 22% of its total capacity. The brokerage firm has cut its 2025 earnings forecast for the company by 10% due to the flight reductions. This is not the first time a disruption at Newark has dented United's earnings. In the second quarter of 2023, flight delays and cancellations shaved 1 percentage point from margins. At that time, CEO Kirby was widely criticized for taking a private jet out of the New York area while thousands of United passengers were stranded. CAMPAIGN FOR SLOT-CONTROLS United has been campaigning to return Newark to a slot-controlled airport, similar to LaGuardia and JFK. That would require airlines to acquire slots to add flights. The FAA lifted slot controls at the airport in 2016 to promote competition. United opposed the change as the restriction allowed it to maintain its dominance at Newark. United says Newark's performance has worsened since slot control ended. "It was a mistake to de-slot the airport in 2016 -- every single data point says so," Kirby said this month. (Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh; Additional reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by David Gregorio)
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
REAL ID deadline comes and goes – airports report business as usual
Despite fears of first-day chaos over the new REAL ID requirement, airports reported smooth sailing Wednesday, with no major disruptions tied to the rollout, according to security officials. "We didn't see long lines," one passenger arriving at South Carolina's Greeneville-Spartanburg Airport from Washington-Dulles told a local reporter. "It was a walk in the park." TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said in April that about 20% of the public still lacks REAL ID compliance. When asked whether this could affect travel times starting Wednesday, she said it's "reasonable" to expect travelers may need to arrive early. Do We Even Need This? Lawmakers Get Real About Real Id Mandate Starting Today "I am extremely concerned there will be long lines and a lot of confusion," Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, added in comments to travel website The Points Guy ahead of the rollout. Meanwhile, Philadelphia International Airport urged passengers to arrive two-and-a-half hours early for domestic flights Wednesday. However, reporters at various airports across the country found that the delays some feared never came to fruition, and wait times were minimal. Airport and security officials confirmed their reports. Read On The Fox News App "We are pleased to share that the TSA lines are moving efficiently," Nashville International Airport said Wednesday. "Smooth operations this morning," Baltimore-Washington International Airport reported. "Smooth" operations were reported by airports and security officials alike. There was an increased presence of Homeland Security officials at Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, but no complaints were reported to Fox News reporters on the ground there from passengers. Travelers on social media and in news reports shared stories of getting through airport security without a REAL ID, or its compliant equivalent such as a passport, which federal officials indicated would be possible with additional screening ahead of Wednesday's rollout. Several passengers without compliant identification were given a notice indicating their IDs were not REAL ID compliant, and they should expect delays the next time they travel if they don't have one. Flight Passengers Warn Of 'Real Id Apocalypse' While Others Acknowledge Americans Can Still Fly The federal government's REAL ID requirement is two decades in the making and has faced several delays over the years. The law stemmed from long-held concerns from federal officials about false identification, but gained momentum and was enacted following the 9/11 attacks. "REAL ID will keep us more secure. It gives us more information so that we know who is traveling on our federal transportation systems and our airlines," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday in a video from Washington-Reagan International Airport. "Thank you everybody for all of your cooperation, and we're looking to make America more secure in following our federal law."Original article source: REAL ID deadline comes and goes – airports report business as usual
Fox News
08-05-2025
- Fox News
REAL ID deadline comes and goes – airports report business as usual
Despite fears of first-day chaos over the new REAL ID requirement, airports reported smooth sailing Wednesday, with no major disruptions tied to the rollout, according to security officials. "We didn't see long lines," one passenger arriving at South Carolina's Greeneville-Spartanburg Airport from Washington-Dulles told a local reporter. "It was a walk in the park." TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said in April that about 20% of the public still lacks REAL ID compliance. When asked whether this could affect travel times starting Wednesday, she said it's "reasonable" to expect travelers may need to arrive early. "I am extremely concerned there will be long lines and a lot of confusion," Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, added in comments to travel website The Points Guy ahead of the rollout. Meanwhile, Philadelphia International Airport urged passengers to arrive two-and-a-half hours early for domestic flights Wednesday. However, reporters at various airports across the country found that the delays some feared never came to fruition, and wait times were minimal. Airport and security officials confirmed their reports. "We are pleased to share that the TSA lines are moving efficiently," Nashville International Airport said Wednesday. "Smooth operations this morning," Baltimore-Washington International Airport reported. "Smooth" operations were reported by airports and security officials alike. There was an increased presence of Homeland Security officials at Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, but no complaints were reported to Fox News reporters on the ground there from passengers. Travelers on social media and in news reports shared stories of getting through airport security without a REAL ID, or its compliant equivalent such as a passport, which federal officials indicated would be possible with additional screening ahead of Wednesday's rollout. Several passengers without compliant identification were given a notice indicating their IDs were not REAL ID compliant, and they should expect delays the next time they travel if they don't have one. The federal government's REAL ID requirement is two decades in the making and has faced several delays over the years. The law stemmed from long-held concerns from federal officials about false identification, but gained momentum and was enacted following the 9/11 attacks. "REAL ID will keep us more secure. It gives us more information so that we know who is traveling on our federal transportation systems and our airlines," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday in a video from Washington-Reagan International Airport. "Thank you everybody for all of your cooperation, and we're looking to make America more secure in following our federal law."
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Drop in TPA passengers through first half of 2025 fiscal year
The Brief New data shows TPA ended up serving roughly one million fewer passengers during the first half of fiscal year 2025 than originally expected. Airport officials cited several factors, including Hurricane Milton and a spring break riddled with canceled flights due to severe weather and air traffic delays across the country. TPA officials say they are keeping a close eye on the downturn in passenger traffic and will be watching the numbers closely over the summer period to see if the trend continues. TAMPA - Tampa International Airport saw a drop in passenger numbers during the first half of fiscal year 2025, which runs from October to March. New data shows the airport ended up serving roughly one million fewer passengers during that six-month period than it originally expected it would. Data also shows TPA saw fewer domestic travelers in March this year compared to March 2024. Airport officials cited several factors for the decline, including Hurricane Milton and a spring break riddled with canceled flights due to severe weather and air traffic delays across the country. Additionally, Easter weekend fell in April this year – not March like it did last year. Aviation experts also add that Americans may have less discretionary income these days. What they're saying "There's also the broader economic environment. And look, travel is a discretionary purchase," Henry Harteveldt, travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group, said. "We may love to travel, but if the cost of everyday items is more expensive or if we're uncertain about our jobs or job stability, if we are not earning as much money as we once were, we're going to have to cut back on the discretionary activities." READ: Real ID deadline set for May 7: What to know when traveling Experts also point to some uncertainty amid the current economic and political climate. "This dip in tourism, I think, is really driven by more than just economic conditions. I think it really is more of a global social response to the current conditions in the United States," USF Sarasota-Manatee economics instructor Michael Snipes said. Consider international travel: While new numbers show it continues to do pretty well at TPA, experts told FOX 13 overall international travel to the U.S. is down. "When we look at a country like Canada and some of the countries in the (European Union), a lot of that is going to be, not just protest against the tariffs, but protest against the administration itself," Snipes added. READ: Tampa Bay 24/7: Behind the scenes of Tampa International Airport's overnight runway maintenance Experts said it's worth seeing whether fewer passengers flying in and out of Tampa Bay could mean less revenue generated for local hotels and restaurants. "While it may not necessarily affect all states equally, it's definitely something that we need to be very aware of and very in tune with here in the Tampa Bay area," Snipes said. What's next On Friday, TPA officials told FOX 13 they are keeping a close eye on the downturn in passenger traffic and will be watching the numbers closely over the summer period to see if the trend continues. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Ariel Placensia. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
