Ackislander

Over the winter, culminating in last week's messes, EWR has seemed to have significantly longer weather delays than the other New York airports.

Is this confirmation bias since I hate both Newark Airport and ex-Continental Airlines or is it real?

If it is real, why?

Thanks!

travelgourmet

Well, there is likely a lot of confirmation bias going on. But... all the operational metrics point to United being no better than okay in terms of the basic blocking and tackling.

It could be worse, though. Southwest has been truly awful in terms of operational performance lately, with the worst 12-month on-time performance of the big 4 carriers.

In terms of operational performance, Delta has easily been better than the other big 4 carriers for at least the last 12 months or so.

J62

2013 Stats show that Newark has worse ontime stats than LGA or JFK

http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/subject_...13_12/table_06

Those stats speak to the % delays, not length.

I can't say I know the root cause, but it could be many factors such as:

# runways or runway spacing - closely spaced parallel runways limit # flights when weather is bad.

# arrivals/departures vs optimum capacity.

# regional flights - these also ripple through the system whenever there is a hiccup. I'd think LGA has a similar makeup of flights, while JFK has more long haul.

Ackislander

Thanks for your cogent answers. Every one of these is plausible, and it is nice to have True Facts to back up,my impressions.

Sorry not to get back sooner. I have been literally on the road. Wound up driving Richmond to Boston today. Cloudy, misty, an hour ahead of schedule at the Tappan Zee, then 4 1/2 hours to Boston. Crawled across Connecticut, averaging 32 mph. Who knew that Mothers Day Weekend is one of the Big Ones for traffic? Our second worst time ever for the trip, but we had to be home (O Irony) for Mothers Day!

LGA and EWR were backed up today by that same ow cloud and fog, so he result might have been nearly the same in the ir.

DonTopaz

> Who knew that Mothers Day Weekend is one of the Big Ones for traffic?

Who, indeed? On a local radio show a day or so ago, the head of the Mass DOT was saying the exact same thing: the Friday before Mothers Day is traditionally the 2nd-highest travel day on the highways. The biggest travel day isn't what I'd expected, either -- it's not the Weds before Thanksgiving, but the Friday before Columbus Day.

joethekay

Ongoing runway and taxiway construction at EWR will keep delays coming this spring.

kenav

Weather is worse in Newark. More snow accumulation. So that may be a reason, at least in the winter.

J62

Interesting. I never knew that Newark had substantially different weather than LGA and JFK, both of which are about 20mi away. Microclimates perhaps?

kenav

J62 - Yes, Newark is different. Winter has more snow; summer is hotter. I always note that here in NYC if the temp is 85, then in Newark it will be 92, for example.

J62

Wow!! you are right. I looked up the data, and in an average year Newark gets 28.5" snow, LGA 26.9", and JFK 23.8.


www.srh.noaa.gov/data/OKX/CLIEWR
www.srh.noaa.gov/data/OKX/CLILGA
www.srh.noaa.gov/data/OKX/CLIJFK

I don't quite get how 1.6" difference for the season makes a difference, but I'll take your word for it.

kenav

J62 - I'm not saying that's the reason Newark has a worse record, just that it does have slightly different weather.