How often does this happen?

[Stomp16]

US plans NYC flight auction next month

Associated Press - August 6, 2008 2:53 AM ET
WASHINGTON (AP) - The government will auction off a take-off and landing slot at Newark Liberty International Airport next month.
It's the first step in an experiment to ease travel delays through the New York metro area's airspace.
The Transportation Department announced the plan a day after the managers of the three major airports in the New York City area vowed to block it -- in courts or Congress.
The Bush administration has championed a limited auction of take-off and landing slots at Newark, LaGuardia and JFK airports to reduce flight delays. Such delays have a ripple effect, causing backups throughout the country.
The Air Transport Association has said it will sue to block the September 3rd auction.

 

[Scandinavian13]

Adding more takeoff and landing slots at those airports isn't going to do anything to delays. I don't see how an auction would do anything for the delay issue.

Subtracting the amount of slots would help delays. Redesigning the layout of Newark entirely might, too, but would be an absurd suggestion.

 

[jtrain609]

The port authority is blocking this, as I understand it, so it won't be happening.

 

[Scandinavian13]

Still, I'm trying to understand the logic behind it...

 

[flyinkibblez]

sounds like the typical solution.... they don't really have one, but they've found another way to make money.

 

[Scandinavian13]

Yeah, good point.
Can't expect too much of a "solution" from certain parties now-a-days...

How about this one? The government buys up the slot and holds it empty to help the congestion. It already buys up unsold farm produce to "help" farmers.