The big Squeeze

Between 1995 and 1999, the total number of operations at U.S. airports rose

more than 8 percent. Since 1995, the number of passengers increased almost

16 percent, from about 582 million to 674 million. That number is expected

to reach 1 billion passengers by 2009 if current trends continue.

Meanwhile, runway incursions, which happen whenever the possibility

of a collision exists, increased 34 percent between 1995 and 1999. Operational

errors, which happen when air traffic controllers fail to maintain the minimum

separation between aircraft, rose 23 percent from 1996 to 1999.

Source: Department of Transportation Office of the Inspector General