Gaurav Joshi

When it comes to operating flights to strategically important airports around the world, airlines often prioritize aircraft that have suitable layouts to meet passenger demands for those sectors, in addition to obvious factors such as aircraft range and capacity. When one looks at Air India’s choice of planes for its flights to Europe and North America, a clear pattern emerges: Boeing 787 Dreamliners dominate European routes, while the 777s are mostly reserved for the United States and Canada.

The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport is being built at a massive scale and promises to be not just one of the best in the country but also globally. As part of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's $19 billion transformation of JFK Airport, it will be completed in two phases – the first phase, including the new arrivals and departures halls and the first set of 14 new gates, is expected to open in 2026.

Inadequate ATC staffing is an issue affecting several airports in the United States. While Newark Liberty International Airport has somewhat become a poster child of such problems, other airports, too, are facing operational challenges because they don’t have enough air traffic controllers guiding aircraft. Austin–Bergstrom International Airport is also in the news now for being issued a ground delay, with the Federal Aviation Administration giving “staffing” as the reason for it.