Wayport
Encyclopedia
A wayport is a major airport
, possibly built on the outskirts of or away from urban
locations, having the primary purpose of serving connecting flights as part of the national airport network. Wayports have been proposed as a potential solution in the United States
to dealing with increasing congestion at major urban airports.
No wayports have been built, but the idea is being considered by the Federal Aviation Administration
as it reviews future needs of the air transportation network in the United States. Due to the high number of connecting passengers using city airports which are neither the passengers' origin nor destination, wayports could offload some of this demand by funneling these passengers through rural facilities designed expressly for this purpose, allowing city airports to deal primarily with passengers originating or terminating their travel at that location. This would increase city airport capacity without new construction.
For example, Pittsburgh International Airport
is an existing major airport that is currently vastly underused on account of the loss of US Airways
hub status in the early 2000s. Its fully modern air traffic control and ground operations capabilities, in conjunction with its three parallel runways, give it the ability to easily handle a high number of aircraft operations per hour, even in poor weather conditions. Estimates indicate that only 15% of the airport's capacity is being utilized, and therefore the airport has been proposed as a wayport for lessening the tremendous load on congested and delay-prone airspace around Philadelphia International Airport
and the New York City airports (Newark
, JFK, and LaGuardia
).
The concept of wayports has existed for twenty years but has been touted recently by former FAA official William Shea
as an answer for future air system development.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
, possibly built on the outskirts of or away from urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
locations, having the primary purpose of serving connecting flights as part of the national airport network. Wayports have been proposed as a potential solution in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to dealing with increasing congestion at major urban airports.
No wayports have been built, but the idea is being considered by the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
as it reviews future needs of the air transportation network in the United States. Due to the high number of connecting passengers using city airports which are neither the passengers' origin nor destination, wayports could offload some of this demand by funneling these passengers through rural facilities designed expressly for this purpose, allowing city airports to deal primarily with passengers originating or terminating their travel at that location. This would increase city airport capacity without new construction.
For example, Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
is an existing major airport that is currently vastly underused on account of the loss of US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
hub status in the early 2000s. Its fully modern air traffic control and ground operations capabilities, in conjunction with its three parallel runways, give it the ability to easily handle a high number of aircraft operations per hour, even in poor weather conditions. Estimates indicate that only 15% of the airport's capacity is being utilized, and therefore the airport has been proposed as a wayport for lessening the tremendous load on congested and delay-prone airspace around Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport is a major airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region and in Pennsylvania...
and the New York City airports (Newark
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
, JFK, and LaGuardia
LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
).
The concept of wayports has existed for twenty years but has been touted recently by former FAA official William Shea
William Shea
William Alfred "Bill" Shea was an American lawyer and a name partner of the prominent law firm of Shea & Gould...
as an answer for future air system development.