A look at JetBlue's plan to tackle holiday rush

(New York - WABC, November 13, 2007) (WABC) -- If you're planning to travel by air for Thanksgiving, be ready to get to the airport extra early. Air travel this year is expected to be up four percent compared to last year -- and the planes will be packed.

Eyewitness News reporter Tim Fleischer looks at what one major airline is planning to do to prevent long delays during the holidays.

Get ready if your traveling this holiday season.

"We're expecting the worse ... it is what it is and you hope for the best," said passenger Mary Madden.

For JetBlue, the largest carrier at JFK and many airlines, this holiday travel season is expecting to bring an increase in passengers -- 27 milllion flying.

JetBlue founder David Neeleman sat down with me in an exclusive interview.

His airline is preparing for this hectic season while looking back on major changes after this February's snow and ice storm cripples the carrier.

"We made a lot of mistakes," Neeleman said.

It stranded passengers on planes for more than eight hours, and days passed before all flights resumed.

"We put in place new systems and procedures as far as getting people off airplanes ... We feel much better capable of handling a storm like that, not only on the operations side being able to shut down ... but also dealing with the customers," he said.

The airline is also changing schedules and some routes after the FAA suggests capping JFK flights at 80 per hour.

Passengers hope this will prevent delays this holiday season.

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