Following Epic JFK January Storm, Port Authority Implements New Rules
by Richard D’Ambrosio /
Following on a disastrous early 2018 winter weekend that sparked a number of service issues, including stranding tens of thousands of airline passengers traveling through John F. Kennedy International Airport, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced new rules and processes designed to avoid future problems at the airport.
Some of the rules and processes have been in place at JFK this winter on an interim basis as the Port Authority finalized its own analysis of Winter Storm Grayson.
According to the Port Authority, as heavy snowfall hampered operations that weekend, aircraft still departed for JFK, which struggled to open up terminal gates. Passengers were left stranded aboard arriving aircraft on frigid taxiways, and the cascade of issues caused luggage to be delayed for days.
Other rules and procedures were created following discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), airlines, ground services providers and terminal operators.
Principal among the new procedures is a requirement that airlines request and receive “explicit confirmation from their terminal operator” that a gate will be available for flights arriving during a “storm window.” In the event a storm window is called, and the general manager recommends flight cancellations, changes will require “that the arrival of the flight will not have a negative impact on the safe and efficient functioning of the terminal,” the Port Authority said.
Since January, the Port Authority has been operating a JFK Emergency Operating Center (EOC) during storms, and said it is strengthening requirements for participation by airlines, terminal operators, and ground during winter storms. The JFK EOC also includes the Port Authority Police Department, as well as public information officers for more effective public communications.
One of JFK’s major issues is that each of its eight terminals is operated by a different entity. Some are airlines, while others are independent operators or a consortium of airlines utilizing those terminals. This can make communication and coordination much more complex. JFK piloted its new storm window procedures during Winter Storm Skylar, March 13, 2018 “with positive results,” the agency stated.
“The measures announced today represent another critical step to enhance performance at JFK in future winter storms,” Port Authority Aviation Director Huntley Lawrence said. “As we said at the time and continue to emphasize, what happened in January cannot and will not happen again.”
During storm emergencies, the EOC will require that all inbound flights are assigned a gate based on the plane’s estimated “on-block time” no later than one hour prior to the plane’s scheduled landing. In any instance where the estimated on-block time is more than 90 minutes after estimated arrival time, alternative compatible gate options will be required.
“If no compatible gates are available, the Port Authority and terminal operator will promptly determine if disembarking passengers at an un-gated position and busing them to a terminal is a more suitable option,” the Port Authority said. Another rule will allow the Port Authority to remove inactive aircraft taking up gate space.
Additional measures include mandated requirements for mutual aid between airlines, terminal operators, and ground handlers to share equipment, staff and gates during emergency situations. All requests for mutual aid are facilitated through the EOC.
JFK has also created “an airport-wide inventory of equipment” owned by all airport stakeholders to be used during emergencies and will acquire its own spare equipment to be deployed as necessary.
Similarly, the Port Authority is requiring JFK's terminal operators to provide a "common use" baggage service office serving multiple airlines if any individual airlines cannot meet new mandated requirements.
Also, the airport is requiring terminal operators and ground-handling organizations to certify to the airport general manager that all of their relevant equipment (e.g. snow removal and normal operating equipment) is fully fueled and checked for storm readiness, and each entity has put in place a staffing plan adequate to meet full operations during the predicted storm.
The Port Authority also is implementing a network of “heavy duty buses” to transport airline and airport employees to their work places whenever a snow emergency diminishes their ability to get to JFK.
The Port Authority may add to these rules and processes when it receives the recommendations from an independent report to be issued by former Secretary Ray LaHood later this month.