MIT researchers are trying to end flight delays
Other than long security lines, customs, screaming babies, luggage charges, and other travelers, few things are as irritating at airports as delayed flights. But thanks to a new study by MIT, flight delays could soon be minimized for everybody.
According to the study, about 20 percent of U.S. flights were at least 15 minutes behind schedule in 2011. Besides annoying passengers, the delays cost U.S. airlines around $6.5 billion in 2010.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s current rules for managing delays can randomly affect some airlines more than others. The MIT researchers belives their new model would distribute delays more evenly, allowing airlines to swap departure schedule slots.
The new system wouldn’t completely eradicate air travel delays, but would mean that two hypothetical planes could both have a 15-minute delay rather than one having no delay, and one having a 30-minute wait.
To read more about the study, click here.
Here’s what Logan Airport used to look like:
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