A Strategy Is Needed To Deal With Peaking Problems at International Airports

Highlights

In response to a congressional request, GAO examined how rescheduling international flight arrivals might ease the problems caused by multiple arrivals within a short time period and the effect of multiple arrivals on the federal inspection process. Assuming no change in the federal agencies' staffing levels, GAO developed a computerized simulation program which attempted to spread out flight arrivals at the Honolulu Airport without violating any airport's curfew and gave some consideration to travelers' preferences for arrival and departure times.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of the Treasury	The Secretary of the Treasury, in cooperation with the other federal inspection agencies, should establish criteria for identifying the existence of peaking problems at airports, based primarily on the number of international travelers that can be efficiently and timely handled by the federal inspection system, as currently configured or potentially enhanced.	Closed – Implemented Customs determined that setting a facilities-per-hour capacity is the appropriate peaking response. It stated that this worked successfully at JFK and Seattle-Tacoma Airports. Customs does not see immediate peaking problems at other airports. However, it is developing an airport model analysis system, which, when implemented, will serve as the basis for addressing future peaking problems at air
Department of the Treasury	The Secretary of the Treasury should develop a strategy to deal with the problems of peaking. Such strategy should include an assessment of alternatives including controlling the timing of flight arrivals if timely entry of travelers cannot be improved through other alternatives. Further, the Secretary, in conjunction with the airlines and other concerned federal agencies, should reconsider the procedures for allocating landing rights.	Closed – Implemented Customs is developing a strategy to deal with peaking based on setting a facilities-per-hour capacity at problem airports. This strategy was employed at the Seattle-Tacoma and JFK Airport and three carriers shifted arrivals to ease the peaking problem. Customs is trying to facilitate passengers within existing schedules by enhancing processing techniques.

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Topics

Transportation

Air transportationAirportsComputer modelingCustoms administrationImmigrationInspectionInternational travelAirlinesAircraftAviation