The Federal Aviation Administration announced the activation of 169 new flight routes with the intent of improving passenger times, saving airline fuel and overall increasing flight safety.
The Federal Aviation Administration activated new, faster routes along the East Coast to help ease congestion during the upcoming summer travel season, according to a May 1 news release. The new routes will allow aircraft to fly more direct paths between destinations, reducing flight time and fuel consumption.
"The new East Coast flight routes activated by our @FAANews will make trips more direct — maintaining safety in our skies and reducing cancellations and delays on the ground," Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a May 4 Twitter Post.
The FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System, known as NextGen, provides advanced satellite-based navigation, allowing aircraft to fly more precise routes, the release reported. The new routes will be used by commercial airlines and general aviation aircraft, and are expected to save a total of 2.7 million nautical miles each year.
The activation of the new routes comes after several years of planning and coordination with air traffic controllers, airlines and aviation stakeholders, the release reported. The FAA expects the new routes to help alleviate congestion in the busy airspace along the East Coast, particularly during peak travel times.
The FAA is continuing to implement NextGen improvements throughout the National Airspace System to enhance safety, increase capacity and improve efficiency, according to the release. The new routes along the East Coast are just one example of the benefits of this advanced technology, and the FAA is committed to working with stakeholders to implement similar improvements across the country.
With the summer travel season approaching, the new East Coast flight routes are expected to provide relief to travelers and airlines alike. By reducing flight time and fuel consumption, the new routes will also benefit the environment by reducing emissions, the release said.
The FAA's commitment to implementing advanced technology and procedures is helping to create a safer and more efficient National Airspace System, and the activation of the new East Coast flight routes is just one step in this process, the release reported.
