With New York Airports Open, AMR to Resume Full N.Y. Schedule (Update 1)

Updated with new information on American and JetBlue operations

NEW YORK -- (TheStreet) -- All three New York airports were open Thursday morning and airlines are gradually building their schedules back to pre-Hurricane Sandy levels, with />American (AAMRQ.PK) planning full New York operations by the end of the day.

By midday Thursday every major airline was ramping up service at the New York airports, envisioning the operation of full or nearly full schedules on Friday.

American is operating a full schedule at New York Kennedy and will have full schedules at LaGuardia and Newark after noon Thursday, said spokesman Kent Powell. Additionally, he said, "We are operating additional flights into JFK today to assist customers impacted by cancellations earlier in the week."

The carrier has also extended its change fee waiver policies, so that customers using New York airports who bought tickets no later than Oct. 30 for travel Oct. 31 through Nov. 7 may rebook without penalty for travel through Dec. 20.

JetBlue (JBLU) said it will operate 80% of its schedule Thursday, building to 100% on Saturday. JetBlue will operate 50% of its JFK schedule Thursday. It will also operate its LaGuardia flights from JFK, with the exception of its last four arrivals, and will begin operations at Newark Thursday. The carrier will also operate its full Boston schedule Thursday.

JetBlue advised New York passengers to allow extra time to get to the airport as roadways are extremely congested.

US Airways (LCC) said it will begin Newark and Kennedy departures after midday on Thursday. US Airways will resume LaGuardia departures on Friday morning.

Delta (DAL) is near a full schedule at JFK and expects to operate 50% of its schedule at LaGuardia today. United (UAL) is "getting close to resuming normal operations today at Newark," spokesman Charles Hobart said Thursday. United started slowly at LaGuardia this morning, but "we plan to increase service as we move closer to the late afternoon and early evening," he said.

Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Port Authority said it would offer parking fee rebates to passengers whose returns to Boston Logan were delayed by Hurricane Sandy. Rebates will be offered for the period of time that exceeds the customer's original ticketed date of return.

"Sandy has made life difficult for all of us," said Aviation Director Ed Freni. "Much like an airline waiving the change fee on tickets during the storm, we don't want our customers to face an unhappy return.''

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-- Written by Ted Reed in Charlotte, N.C.

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