American Airlines Removes Moving Walkway At Iconic Airport

American Airlines has decided to remove the moving walkway at New York's JFK Airport. The airline justified this change by stating that without such amenities, passengers are more likely to spend on shopping and dining while navigating the terminal.

A traveler walks on a moving walkway in Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, U.S., on Friday, March 26, 2021. The TSA screened more than 1.3 million people both Friday and Sunday, setting a new high since the coronavirus outbreak devastated travel a year ago. Airlines say they believe the numbers are heading up, with more people booking flights for spring and summer, reports the Associated Press. Photographer: Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images

However, this move is indicative of a wider trend within the airline and airport industries, where profit maximization is increasingly prioritized over passenger comfort and satisfaction.

As airlines focus on generating revenue, they risk turning airports into mere shopping venues rather than spaces designed for ease and comfort.

In 2021, American Airlines issued a request for proposals for a new concessions program at New York JFK Terminal 8. In 2019, before the JetBlue partnership and when American was holding onto slots and had partially withdrawn from the New York market, sales in the terminal were $107.4 million across 21 food and beverage, 3 duty free, 12 specialty retail, 4 currency exchange and 8 travel essential outlets. By July 2023, they announced for what was described as a two-year project for a redevelopment plan for the terminal.

Travelers are voicing increasing dissatisfaction over the terminal's overhaul. The Muslim World Report noted that with other issues already burdening travelers, the added stress of navigating larger distances without help is another blow to customer welfare. "Usually when I’m “struggling” at the airport, I’m not going to buy anything because I’m pissed," one traveler wrote on Reddit.

As American Airlines and others start to see airports more as profit hubs, this not only threatens individual passenger experiences but also the wider travel ecosystem. The implications go beyond mere inconvenience; they indicate a worrying trend of commodifying travel in a way that pushes customers away rather than accommodating them.

However, this trend could lead to airports becoming more focused on retail and dining rather than travel efficiency and passenger satisfaction. In the long run, such a shift could result in a more fragmented travel experience, where passengers are seen primarily as consumers rather than individuals.

Furthermore, if this model turns out to be a success in the short run, it might encourage other airlines to adopt similar strategies, thereby distancing themselves further from travelers.

This could lead to heightened dissatisfaction and public campaigns against corporate behaviors that put profits before comfort, possibly leading to regulatory examination of airport and airline practices - though this might require substantial time and concerted effort.

What happens if the removal of the moving walkway triggers a major public outcry? The possibility of passengers opting for different modes of transport or voicing their displeasure on social media platforms could act as a catalyst for change.

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Www.Refund.me Reveals Top 10 Airports For Delays And Cancellations

refund.me flight compensation statistics show passengers have suffered the most delays and cancellations in Frankfurt Airport

In just 9 months, refund.me has already served claims in over 50 countries from 5 continents and 122 airlines

New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport ranks 10^th worldwide in terms of claims for delayed arrivals processed by refund.me

 refund.me, the international service provider which helps passengers claim their right to monetary compensation for flight delays, cancellations, diversions and missed connections, has revealed a list of the airports where users of its online widget and mobile app have suffered the most inconveniences. In only 9 months since its birth, the German start-up has served claims for passengers in over 50 countries from 5 continents and 122 airlines.

The breakthrough online system was recently awarded the Top Sabre Red Appy Award which recognizes the innovative business idea and its design for the Sabre Red Workspace, used by travel agents to shop for and book travel, and the efforts of refund.me in making passenger rights more transparent and accessible.

According to refund.me statistics^[*], Frankfurt Airport has generated the most claims for delayed arrivals, followed by three British airports, Manchester, Stansted and Gatwick. Dusseldorf’s Airport slots in at 5^th, followed by Tegel (Berlin), Antalya (Turkey), Barajas and Birmingham. New York’s JFK closes out the Top 10. 

Passengers have also suffered the most flight cancellations in Frankfurt Airport^[†], followed by Franz Joseph Strauss Airport (Munich) and Charles de Gaulle (Paris). Gatwick follows close behind in 4^th, followed in turn by Schiphol (Amsterdam), Copenhagen and Dusseldorf airports. Heathrow slots in at 8^th, with Barajas (Madrid) holding the down the 9^th position and Manchester Airport rounding out the Top 10. 

World’s most on-time airports

Major airports in the US are among the best in the world in terms of on-time performance, according to the April on-time report published by flightstats.com. Indeed, 5 of the Top 10 airports are in the US, including Seattle (3^rd), Minneapolis (7^th), Charlotte Douglas (8^th), Phoenix (9^th) and Boston (10^th).

About refund.me

refund.me is an international service provider that helps passengers enforce their claims to compensation for flight delays, cancellations and missed connections quickly and easily. Thanks to its specially developed, high-precision Advanced Business Logic System (ABL) system, claims can be submitted through the website or the free mobile app. refund.me can quickly enforce claims of up to €600 according to EU Regulation 261/2004.

This start-up created in August 2012 has made it its mission to make passenger rights worldwide transparent and attainable. Under its current services, refund.me also helps bus, ship and rail passengers file and enforce their claims under the relevant EU regulations (EU 181/11, EU 1177/10, EU 1371/07), and in the future will provide service for mishandled luggage according to the principles of the Montreal Convention. With regard to air travel, passenger rights have been enforced for hundreds of customers in over 50 countries from 5 continents and 122 airlines and 215 airports. The corporate headquarters of refund.me are located in Potsdam.