That being said, probably the number one reason we hear the command to “Line up and Wait” as opposed to “Cleared for takeoff” is to provide for spacing of airborne aircraft, likewise landing aircraft need to maintain airborne spacing. I think there is still room to reduce the amount of time spent on the runway and if NextGen can provide for closer spacing in the air, some of that time spent on the runway could be reduced, thus increasing the volume that can be handled by any one runway.

Still using KEWR as an example, another significant cause for delay is the volume of traffic caused by the mixing of regional with national and international flights. I would like to see more of the purely regional operations moved to the nearby “regional” airports like Westchester Co (KHPN), MacArthur (KISP), Stewart Intl. (KSWE) and Lehigh Valley Intl. (KABE). In the end it is really about efficiently moving people and cargo as opposed to overall number of flights and locating the regional operations at regional airports would free up space for more heavies at the major hubs. I also think this model would better serves the long term economic interest of all these airports and their communities.

Just my two cents as both a pilot and airline passenger.