Eager to avoid the chaotic scenes of last January’s winter storms, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced new protocols for flight operations at JFK Airport.
New procedures will kick in during adverse weather requiring all airlines to get permission in advance to land before departing.
This didn’t happen last winter causing a huge backlog of arriving jets waiting gates.
Delays dragged on with baggage held up for days in some cases due to confusion and lack of coordination between the various service providers.
Airport officials said all terminal operators and airlines must work together to shift any backlog by sharing access to gates, employees, equipment and any other facilities during disruption.
All operators must also have their own baggage service offices, the Port Authority said.
"We are committed to strengthening JFK Airport’s operating procedures during winter storms so that the breakdowns experienced last January never happen again," PA executive director Rick Cotton said.
"In our continued and ongoing effort to ensure the airport handles winter storms far more effectively, these new measures build on those we announced in late January."
