Reports Say US Airports Close to Capacity

FAA accused of dragging feet on expansions

A week before more than 3 million people overwhelm the nation's airports during the busiest travel weekend of the year, a pair of reports raised a chilling question: What if the nightmare airport scenario of Thanksgiving were repeated every week?

Long lines, standing-room-only lounges, late planes, endless waits for luggage.

Failure to invest in airports and the aviation system will ­result in a steady increase in airport congestion as the demand for air travel is projected to increase by as much as 400 million passengers annually within 20 years, according to a report released Wednesday by the Eno Center for Transportation.