United Airlines considers JFK withdrawal if more flights are not approved

United Airlines said it would suspend flights at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), in New York if the US authorities do not grant the major air carrier more slots to take-off and land.

In an internal memo to employees, seen by Reuters on September 7, 2022, United Airlines explained that while it currently operates four daily flights involving JFK airport, it “will need to suspend service at JFK, effective at the end of October”.

The airline said that it was unable to increase runway slots despite submitting multiple requests to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Without the additional slots, United Airlines said it would not be able to increase its competitiveness in the US market and could not serve JFK “effectively compared to the larger schedules and more attractive flight times flown by our competitors”.