Yes, air travel can be quite the hassle these days, but it's tough to complain about adorable turtle-induced delays, which are currently holding up flights at JFK. This morning JetBlue tweeted: "JFK is experiencing delays as the airport clears turtles off the runway. #cantmakethisup," and indeed, you can't. more ›

Jim Steven, the Port Authority manager in charge of the project to renovate JFK's longest runway (13R-31L), showed us around his job site earlier this month, telling us his deadline was a firm July 1st; "They gave me 120 days, not 121 days." Well, it looks like Steven & Co. will be able to enjoy the holiday weekend after all, because they've finished ahead of schedule! Cause for celebration in a city that rarely makes deadline, no? more ›

Last year Mayor Bloomberg declared his support for, you know, killing Canada Geese before they kill us... so why are the ones closest to one of our major airports being protected? The NY Post says the National Park Service has halted any efforts to remove geese from the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge—which runs right up to one of the airport's runways. more ›

Yesterday, Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward said at a Crain's event, "La Guardia Airport should not be the gateway for domestic flights into New York City. It should fundamentally be torn down and rebuilt again," and called the facility "chaotic." Of course, it's not like there's any money to do that right now, which is why Ward later told reporters, "The capital necessary to rebuild La Guardia is not there. But the planning capacity is and we're working with the consulting industry to reimagine what La Guardia could, in fact, look like when it gets completely rebuilt." more ›

Well, this is unsettling. An air traffic controller at Kennedy Airport told Fox 5 that the runway renovation at JFK, which has shut down the airport's main runway while it undergoes renovations, has made things so complicated that air traffic controllers "are just trying to hold on." What does that mean. Controller Stephen Abraham told them that departing planes have to now cross runways twice, which is a concerns, and that every time a plane crosses a runway, there's an opportunity for disaster. The FAA is working to make sure safe operating procedures are in place. So hopefully those kids are out of the traffic control tower! more ›

So how is this whole shutting down the longest runway at JFK airport thing going? Last month delays were up by 613 even with decreased arrivals and departures. According to the NY Post, the airline industry folk are saying it's going to get worse! An expert tells them, "Generally, flight activity picks up between March and July, so the delays will only get worse, and that doesn't even factor in weather conditions." more ›

The longest runway at JFK Airport is officially closed for four months, and airlines are rallying against the new rule banning 3+ hour tarmac delays during the runway's rehab. JetBlue, Delta and American Airlines are asking that the rule, part of a new airline passengers' bill of rights, be lifted until construction is complete; as of April 29th they could face fines up to $27,500 per passenger if they keep the plane on the tarmac for too long. more ›

The shutting down of JFK Airport's longest runway is upon us! Starting Monday—when the runway goes under the knife for a 4-month rehabilitation project—expect more delays, longer delays, and maybe even higher airfares due to the cutback in flights. And on top of all that, the Daily News says millions at other airports will also suffer delays more often as part of a ripple effect. more ›

Remember last year when we warned you about an upcoming project that would make JFK's longest and busiest runway (13R-31L), known as the Bay Runway, unusable for 4 months? That time is almost here! The much-needed makeover (underway come March) will widen and make the runway more durable — it has, after all, been around since 1948. more ›

Earlier today Snuggie and Fashion Week collided, as the sleeved blankets took the runway at the Snuggie fall 2009/winter 2010 collection show. The invite read that it would "showcase the latest colors, fabrics and patterns" and feature "the sexiest looks in blanket-wear," for not only adults, but kids and canines as well. (Sadly, it doesn't look like the SnugWow was featured.) more ›

Traveler beware: JFK's longest, and busiest, runway (13R-31L) will close for four months next year! But before you start looking up recipes for Turtle Soup, the shelled ones who recently delayed flights aren't to blame. The closure is all part of a $204-million, three-year makeover, Newsday reports. Last year the runway handled more than 143,000 takeoffs and landings, and individual airlines are currently analyzing the effect the closure will have on flight schedules (a JetBlue spokeswoman said "It certainly does have an impact on operations."). The director of aviation for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey explains, "The scope of the project is truly enormous. It provides for the replacement of almost three miles of asphalt pavement." You can read more here—and you've been warned, the closure will begin in March and run until July. Since delays have plagued JFK in the past, this probably won't help their track record. more ›

Ew, the Daily News uses the word "randy" to do so, but aw they tell us that the nearly 80 turtles who crawled onto the runway at JFK yesterday were there to make baby turtles! They were rudely interrupted however, when the "Port Authority workers rushed to the shell-covered runway about 8:30 a.m. and scooped up 78 diamondback terrapins." (According to WCBS 2, a "chorus of pilots" had radioed the tower to chime in about the "massive numbers" of turtles.) The breeding turtles, which are about 8 inches long and weigh 2 to 3 pounds each, were put into a pickup truck and moved back to Jamaica Bay. One Port Authority spokesman said, "Everybody had a good attitude considering it was turtles going off to hatch more turtles." And if they weren't, then what.... they get the Canada Geese treatment? more ›

Move over geese, according to the NYC Aviation website, JFK airport was overcome with turtles today, 78 diamondback terrapin turtles, each weighing 2-3 pounds, to be exact. more ›