United Airlines will exit New York JFK Airport at the end of October after failing to secure enough slots at the airport. The carrier returned to JFK last year by leasing slots from other airlines, but this arrangement is set to expire at the end of the month. We explore this developing story in greater detail below.

United will pull out of New York JFK

Just over 18 months after returning to New York's busiest airport, United Airlines will again withdraw service from New York JFK Airport after it was unable to secure enough slots. An internal memo seen by The Points Guy reveals that United will pull out from October 29th, scrapping its four daily flights from JFK - two each to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

United Airlines B767-300ER take off
Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying.

United told employees in the memo,

"Given our current, too-small-to-be-competitive schedule out of JFK - coupled with the start of the Winter season where more airlines will operate their slots as they resume JFK flying - United has made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend service at JFK."

Around 100 United employees will be affected by this decision. United has reassured its JFK staff that no one is in danger of losing their jobs and it will relocate them to other nearby airports, such as its hub at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

United resumed operations at JFK in March 2021 by securing eight takeoff and landing slots on lease from other carriers, a move made possible by the downturn in air travel. However, these airlines want their slots back now that demand has bounced back.

Failure to secure permanent slots

United issued a warning last month that it would drop JFK if the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would not grant the airline more slots and has now made good on its threats.

A United Airlines Boeing 757-200 parked at an airport gate.
 Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Having been a long-time servant of the airport, United pulled out of the airport in 2015 and leased its 40 JFK slots to Delta Air Lines. Unfortunately for United, the terms of this long-term leasing agreement will not allow the airline to reclaim its slots.

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Will United return again?

It is worth noting that United uses the term "temporarily," revealing the carrier has not given up hope of pulling off its JFK expansion eventually. United CEO Scott Kirby recently wrote to FAA administrator Billy Nolan, noting that despite JFK's improved infrastructure, "the airport capacity has remained the same: 81 operations per hour since 2008, just two more movements per hour than EWR’s stated limit of 79."

The airline claims it will remain in discussions with the FAA about returning to the airport, adding that the "process to add additional capacity at JFK will take some time."

The FAA has also kept the possibility open after stating,

"[We are] dedicated to doing our part to safely expand New York City airports and airspace capacity. We will follow our fair and well-established process to award future slots to increase competition."

It is worth noting that United still technically owns its 40 slots at JFK, but they were granted to Delta on lease and reportedly won't be back in United's hands any time soon. However, this situation could change in the next few years and entice United back to New York's busiest airport.

Do you agree with United Airlines' decision to leave New York JFK Airport? Let us know your insights in the comments.

Source: The Points Guy